Most of the improvements undertaken to increase the capacity of the road infrastructure, in the long term, are of no use. Flyovers, underpasses and tunnels: they do not solve anything. They only make matters worse, as has been proven time and again.

The current impasse between Infrastructure Malta and the Chamber of Architects on the projected Msida flyovers is, in a sense, a contrast in ideas. Infrastructure Malta seeks to implement a project which, while purporting to solve the problem of traffic congestion, will instead end up contributing to its increase. This is clearly demonstrated by studies carried out all over the world.

The Chamber's proposal of planting around 2,000 trees, in the process transforming Msida creek into a 20,000 square metres park makes much more sense. If implemented, the Chamber's proposal could contribute to a long-term solution. However, this solution can only come about if such a proposal is part of a long-term vision for transport policy in these islands.

Once upon a time we were informed by those carrying out feasibility studies of transport projects, that improvements to the capacity of road infrastructure will reduce the time we spend in traffic. Feasibility studies have been abused of left, right and centre as they have been repeatedly used to try and justify the squandering of public funds.

Unfortunately, current local transport policy is not about facilitating mobility but about the reinforcement of a car-centric, car-dominant, car-prioritising culture. At the end of the day this serves no one except the car and the energy industries. Transport policy in the Maltese Islands should be based on one simple (and obvious) fact: the islands are small and almost everywhere is within easy reach.

The traffic congestion we experience is the result of a lack of adequate transport policy throughout the years. We do not address traffic congestion by focusing on it as an effect but by addressing its direct cause. The cause of the problem is private car ownership. Car ownership is intended to address mobility needs, which, in the local circumstances, can generally be addressed easily without the use of private cars.

The National Transport Master Plan 2025, drawn up for the present Labour administration by an Italo-Hispanic consortium and funded by the European Regional Development Fund, points out that transport planning and policy in Malta has been generally more short-term in nature. To be as clear as possible, the Master Plan continues by stating that: "The lack of importance given to long-term planning means that a long-term integrated plan based on solid analysis with clear objectives and targets is lacking. This has resulted in the lack of strategic direction and the inherent inability to address difficult issues such as private vehicle restraint."

The Master Plan goes on by stating that "there is a strong reluctance for Maltese society to change but this is in contrast with the need for communal action to address the traffic problems existing now and in the future. This results in the Maltese traveller expecting that everyone else will change their travel habits so that they can continue to drive their car."

All this is reinforced by data collated by the authors of the Master Plan: "the data shows that about 50 per cent of (car) trips are under 15 minutes (duration) illustrating that mobility is produced at a local level on very short paths."

It could not be clearer than this. Addressing short distances to practically anywhere should be the basic building block of our transport policy, which we ignore at our peril.

Do we want to reduce traffic congestion on our roads? The solution we have been advised to opt for is to reduce private vehicular traffic, as most of it is not really needed due to the short distances actually travelled. This can be done through various initiatives. Encouraging walking and cycling in urban areas can be achieved through the pedestrianisation of more of our streets. The use of public transport should be encouraged not only on a national level, but also on a local and a regional level.

Having public transport free of charge, though laudable, is not enough. More policy initiatives are required to nudge more of us to use alternative modes of sustainable transport, in the process reducing our dependence on the private car. If properly done, this will start addressing traffic congestion and can potentially reduce a substantial number of cars from our roads. Then we would need no flyovers, neither at Msida nor anywhere else.

Instead of reducing the number of cars on our roads, government opts for the exact opposite. The widening of roads and the development of flyovers and underpasses to increase the capacity of our roads as a result, makes way for more and more cars.

This is more money down the drain. An additional €34 million of public funds will be squandered.

 

Carmel Cacopardo is a former Chairperson of ADPD-The Green Party