The autonomous bus project in Gozo commenced its public testing phase after the completion of the commissioning phase, marking another important milestone in the rollout of this innovative EU-funded mobility initiative, Malta Public Transport said Wednesday.
The autonomous bus will operate in the localities of San Lawrenz and Gharb, Gozo, from Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays, between 09:30 and 12:45 and 14:00 and 16:45, with departures every 15 minutes between Ċangura (San Lawrenz) and Dbieġi (Il-Wilġa in Għarb).
The public testing programme will be following rigorous safety considerations. Each journey will be overseen by a trained operator with the ability to take manual control whenever needed, the company said. Operating in accordance with Transport Malta's regulatory requirements, the project will also gather operational data to support a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot project.
Passengers are invited to experience the service free of charge and are encouraged to share their feedback by completing a short survey after their journey. As the research partner in the project, the University of Malta will be collecting passenger feedback throughout the testing period to better understand users' experience, expectations and perceptions of autonomous public transport. The feedback gathered will play an important role in evaluating the pilot and informing future mobility solutions.
The testing phase forms part of the metaCCAZE project, led locally by Malta Public Transport, the Ministry for Sustainable Mobility and the University of Malta, and supported by the Authority for Transport in Malta. The project is exploring how autonomous and connected transport solutions can contribute to safer, smarter and more sustainable mobility.
Malta Public Transport General Manager Konrad Pule said: "The start of the public testing phase represents an important step in this project, as it gives the public the opportunity to experience autonomous transport for the first time in Malta. While this is a pilot initiative, it allows us to better understand how this technology performs in a real-world environment and how passengers interact with it."
The project is focused on exploring how new technology can support and complement Malta's existing public transport service, with drivers continuing to play a central role in delivering the service.
Prof Maria Attard, Director of the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the University of Malta added: "Research lies at the heart of the metaCCAZEproject, exploring how autonomous mobility can be implemented effectively in real-world settings. Beyond technological feasibility, the University of Malta is examining public acceptance, user experiences and the wider social impacts of the service. The pilot will also provide valuable insight into how lessons from other European contexts can be adapted to the specific mobility needs and realities of Malta and Gozo."
Ms Diane Muscat, Director General (Strategy and Policy) at the Ministry for Sustainable Mobility said: "The MetaCCAZEproject allows Malta to explore innovative transport solutions that can contribute to safer, smarter and more sustainable mobility. As the Ministry for Sustainable Mobility, this initiative represents an important step in supporting the testing of more efficient, accessible and environmentally responsible transport systems. The pilot will provide valuable knowledge and practical experience to help shape the future of transport in Malta and Gozo, while informing future policy and investment decisions in the sector."
The Chief Executive Officer of Transport Malta, Mr Leonid McKay, said that, for this technology to be tested on our roads, a regulatory and legislative framework had been established to enable such testing. This followed extensive research into the legislative frameworks adopted by other countries. The pilot project will also provide the regulator with valuable insight into how regulations and legislation should be developed in the future to facilitate the introduction of autonomous vehicles on Maltese roads.
The metaCCAZE project is co-funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe programme. metaCCAZE aims to revolutionise mobility in European cities, serving both passengers and freight, with innovative electric, automated, and connected solutions designed to make transport smarter, net zero, and more efficient for all. Other innovative pilots have been launched in nine other European cities, including Tampere (Finland), and Amsterdam (the Netherlands).
metaCCAZE is a Horizon Europe project supported by the European Commission under grant agreement No 101139678. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. metaCCAZE is a project under the CIVITAS Initiative, an EU funded programme working to make sustainable and smart mobility a reality for all, andcontributes to the goals of the EU Mission Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities.