“The serious congestion we already experience is becoming a burden on our quality of life and a threat to economic productivity and competitiveness. It is taking us longer and longer to travel the shortest distances, creating much heavier pollution at ever increasing costs,” said Alternattiva Demokratika’s Chairman Harry Vassallo while speaking at a press conference about public transport yesterday held at AD’s Sliema offices.
“The question of urban mobility is a major challenge for the country, which AD has chosen to prioritise in its coalition proposals. In order to address this challenge, there is an urgent need for innovative thinking, to transform this present threat into an opportunity, making Malta a showcase of advanced technology and intelligent solutions,” said Dr Vassallo.
“The first step has to be the removal of all monopolies and near monopolies in public transport. The conditions must be created to ensure that there will be attractive rewards to those who provide the fast, efficient and reliable services the country needs,” he added.
According to Dr Vassallo, the government is duty bound to remove all legal difficulties for those interested in investing in private schemes for carpooling, timesharing and pay-by-use of vehicles. “With the Greens in a coalition government, preference will be given to those who pollute less and those who reduce the country’s carbon footprint. Those who do not apply for a driver’s licence at the age of 18, will be entitled to freely travel on public transport and be entitled to hold a licence to drive a low-powered motorcycle exempt from registration and road license fees. These vehicles will be entitled to travel on bus lanes which will be widely extended to increase the efficiency and attractiveness of public transport,” he said.
The contribution of AD to a coalition government will also include the identification of the most appropriate transit system such as an underground rail system which the country must invest in. The Greens are committed to this long term project on which one must embark today in order to have it in place years after the end of the next administration. AD’s promise is that work will start on this within the next five years. “We can no longer afford to put off these important decisions,” concluded Dr Vassallo.
Dr Vassallo also said they are disappointed that the buses introduced have diesel engines when they can work just as well with compressed natural gas. AD are also willing to introduce stricter measures to decrease noise pollution from cars and fine irresponsible drivers who enjoy having holes in their silencers, as well as creating sound barriers to protect residential areas.