Perhaps not even the optimists at the Transport Ministry and Transport Authority thought that there would have been such a strong response for the planned reform in the public transport service.
The gradual deterioration of the public transport system, most notably the bus services (but not only), led many to believe that the call for expressions of interest in the reform would not have generated so much feedback.
Yet it seems that the way the ministry and authority have handled the planning stages did strike the right chords.
Last Tuesday, when the deadline expired, it became known that eight consortia have shown interest in the project, aimed to regenerate a service that needs a major overhaul. And how!
The fact that among the companies that have shown interest there are foreign enterprises with loads of experience in handling public transport in major cities such as in Spain, UK, Hungary, Italy and France raises the hopes that, once in place, we could have a system that we would be proud of.
Naturally, this is only the first step in a long process. The actual call for tenders will be issued next month after the expressions of interest are analysed by the competent authorities, and only those who fulfil the requirements will be allowed to participate. The real planning stages and implementation of the new system will start when a decision will be made on the best bid.
Local bus drivers form part of one of the consortia that have shown an interest in the project. This confirms that the way the foundations of the reform were laid did not automatically exclude them from showing an interest, as the Public Transport Association believed they would have.
They have a chance like anyone else, and it is positive to think that local bus owners realise that, with some effort and with some support from foreign operators, they can themselves take on the project – one that they resisted for many years.
Ten years into the new millennium, it is about time that Malta, as a tourist destination but also with respect to its many local patrons, has an efficient, reliable and value for money public transport mechanism.
For too many years there were promises of change but no real attempt at upgrading a service that remained too dependent on the whims of drivers. Some new buses were brought in, but a good part of the fleet was not up to the required standards, whereas a number of bus drivers stood out for their rudeness towards their passengers. As to uniforms, one wonders what they really look like, considering that drivers continued to wear what they like.
A revamped public transport system is necessary for a country that has tourism as one of the mainstays of its economy. It is also needed to possibly cut down on the number of cars on the road.
It is a known fact that many people today use their own cars – and get frustrated because of the long traffic jams and parking problems – simply because they cannot rely on an efficient public transport to get from point A to point B. If the public transport service is improved, if the buses in use are air-conditioned and if there are more direct routes (without having to go to Valletta), there is no doubt that more people would be willing to use buses rather than their own car – even if this means paying a higher fare than they are doing today.
Added to this, a reduction in the use of private vehicles will also mean less pollution and cleaner air.