A bus replacement programme aimed at creating “a dynamic network” will be implemented in line with a Cabinet decision that will see different types of buses being used, Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett told the Valletta Conference for Sustainable European Transport Systems yesterday.
The minister pointed out that in the last few years, 142 buses have been replaced by super low floor Euro III engine buses and a further number of buses will be replaced over the coming years. He said that the cabinet had requested a bus replacement programme, which will be carried out by introducing different types of buses in order to create a dynamic network.
The changes will form part of a wider public transport reform, said Mr Mugliett, with different aspects including a new level service agreement that better defined the roles of the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) and the operators, a better scheduling infrastructure and procedures, the bus replacement programme, improvements to the existing network, the introduction of technology to make public transport attractive and accountable and investment in the public transport infrastructure.
He also announced that the controlled vehicular access plan for Valletta will be launched later this month. It had been planned to introduce this last month, but it had been postponed for technical reasons.
Mr Mugliett said his ministry and the ADT were working on three interdependent projects that had the potential to revolutionise public transport in the Greater Harbour Area.
These three projects were: the bus replacement programme, that will see the replacement of old buses with new, cleaner, buses over the next few years, a wider public transport reform and the technology-based Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) and the Intelligent Traffic Manage-ment System (ITMS).
The AVL is a system that keeps track of the location of public transport vehicles across the country using beacons located on the vehicles. Once operational, the AVL system will provide public transport users with up-to-date information about waiting times or connections, while helping with the scheduling and management of both the rapid transit and regular scheduled bus services.
The ITMS is a system that uses closed circuit television to monitor the situation on the roads. When running, the ITMS will be synchronised with the AVL and will provide drivers with electronic messages in order to avoid delays by giving information on alternative routes, giving priority access to buses, rapid transit buses and emergency services vehicles, and providing information on the availability of car parking spaces in specific areas.
The ministry has applied for EU funds for the implementation of the AVL and the ITMS and is hoping to issue the calls for tender within the next three months.
Mr Mugliett enumerated the work that had been carried out by the ministry, highlighting the success of the Park and Ride Scheme and the upgrading of the arterial and distributor road network, which has seen 26 per cent of the network upgraded in six-and-a-half years.
The minister also mentioned the Manoel Island urban regeneration project and the Tigne development project, the Cruise Liner Terminal and the Cottonera Waterfront project, as well as the Dock No. 1 development, the Ta’ Qali Convention Centre, the redevelopment of the Ta’ Qali Crafts Village and the forthcoming redevelopment of the Schreiber area in Paola.
Mr Mugliett said that upgrading the road network was not in itself enough to provide a solution to all the transit challenges that Malta was facing. To this end, he said, the ministry was implementing the accessibility strategy for Valletta and Floriana published by the Cabinet Committee for National Projects in 2005. This included the Vertical Connection Project, the Sea Ferries, the Park and Ride Scheme and electric taxis.