ADPD – The Green Party has said that the Government’s transport policy “ignores a long term environmental perspective and considers climate impacts very superficially.”

Secretary General of ADPD Ralph Cassar said, “the Government proclaims the need to protect farming, but is gobbling up good agricultural land at a fast rate. It emphasises the need for more open spaces yet it is stubborn in its refusal to reverse the negative impacts of the 2006 local plans and development boundaries.”

“Moreover, it is continuously increasing the pace of development. Sustainable development should mean that we bequeath future generations a better world, with reduced environmental impacts, even in issues of transport,” he said.

“There is the need to improve local and regional infrastructure to facilitate sustainable mobility at a local and regional level. If this were to be addressed, then the use of cars for certain commutes would decrease, initially on a temporary basis but eventually permanently. This would mean making our roads more suitable and safe for use by bicycles, pedelecs and electric scooters on such short distances, reducing congestion and pollution,” said Cassar.

He stated that “it is good that we have a public debate on the introduction of electric cars. However, on its own this measure will not solve much. It is essential that the number of cars on our roads is reduced.”

Cassar stressed that “the country cannot cope with the demands for electricity when the electrification of our private transport is completely addressed. Long term planning is called for even here, not just on the number and location of charging points but more so on the energy dependency being created through the second Malta-Sicily electricity interconnector.”

“It is already obvious that the Central Link project is attracting more traffic towards Attard,” he said. “Nothing has changed in the narrow winding roads of Attard’s core and in residential areas. All that has happened so far is that the traffic congestion has been shifted from one zone to another.”

“We recognise the government’s positive steps through a number of incentives which are aimed at encouraging persons from different walks of life to make use of alternative means of mobility: both on land as well as though maritime means.” However, Cassar said. “the proposal on free public transport is apparently on the back burner now. Bus priority corridors in our roads coupled with a Bus Rapid Transit system are essential.”

Long term planning for the introduction of a mass transport light rail would be suitable tools to reduce cars from our roads as well as introducing pedestrianisation on a large scale, he said.

He concluded that, “we need suitable links along our main roads facilitating the use of bicycles, scooters and electric bicycles close to post-secondary educational institutions: MCAST, Higher Secondary and University. More flexible working hours, and a mix of telework and office work would also contribute substantially to addressing traffic congestion. ”

File photo

Permalink: Long-term transport plan needed to save agriculture, open spaces and climate – ADP