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Malta calls for EU funds to address traffic congestion
National planning aimed at alleviating traffic congestion underway.
19 October 2013, 12:00am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
3 min read
Transport Minister Joe Mizzi and Transport Malta CEO James Piscopo.
During a bilateral meeting held in Tallinn, Estonia, between Transport Minister Joe Mizzi and Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament and Ten-T coordinator, Malta raised its case on the need of improving traffic management and addressing traffic bottlenecks, most particularly at the Addolorata junction area.
Mizzi was accompanied by Transport Malta CEO James Piscopo and Jonathan Grech, the deputy prime minister's chief of staff.
The minister highlighted the importance of the allocation of specific EU funds for this project.
Mizzi said Malta's traffic bottleneck problem was spreading from the traditional peak hours into other hours of the day.
"Recent experience has shown us that traffic incidents on Malta's TEN-T core network have the potential of causing nationwide disruption to transport services, resulting in passengers missing flights and freight operators missing vital lifeline connecting ferry services to the rest of Europe. All this comes at a great cost to society, tourism and the economy," Mizzi argued.
At the end of this meeting, Mizzi invited Cox to visit Malta.
Mizzi also participated in the TEN-T Days 2013 ministerial conference, chaired by the Vice-President of the EU Commission, Siim Kallas.
Whilst expressing Malta's full commitment towards developing and finalising its core TEN-T network before the year 2030, the minister said that national planning is underway to develop and implement project pipelines that are aimed at alleviating traffic congestion.
During this conference, Ministers, Members of European Parliament and key stakeholders discussed the future development of the trans-European transport network and implementation of the new trans-European network guidelines, with a special focus on financing, innovation and implementation tools.
"Malta, being a small island state on the southernmost periphery of Europe, depends heavily on the strength of its transport connections, both internally and externally," Mizzi said. "We therefore welcome the agreement on the guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, as the development of the TEN-T core network is fundamentally an important step forward in the facilitation the seamless transport of passengers and goods across Europe and, through external air, sea, road, rail and inland waterway gateway nodes to the rest of the world."
He also said that Malta forms the first or final leg of Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor that will facilitate further integration of Malta into European transport networks through the further development of motorways of the sea.
"Development of the national road network," he added, "which internally connects Malta's core sea ports and airport is also high on the political agenda of the Maltese government."
With regard to the financing of the TEN-T network, Mizzi said that Malta is in full agreement with the aims and objectives of the Connecting Europe Facility and welcomes the special consideration now given to those smaller countries without railway services in respect of inter-modality requirements.
"Innovative financing for TEN-T projects is indeed an interesting concept; however, we feel that it may not be easily applicable in certain situations, not least in the absence of revenue flows and economies of scale. Finally, given the limited funding available for the development of the TEN-T, Malta considers it important to keep all general listed priority areas open to funding without focus on new, more specific areas financial support which may not be always applicable or appropriate for all Member States."
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Seems we are back to the arrogant stance as when Austin Gatt was around.
Roadmap flagging before the election campaign
and seemingly roadless bus service vision 6 months into the present legistlation.
I want a EU standard bus service that delivers and a TM regime that minds only its own business in having bus shelters built and roads repaired!
I believe with all the short comings ARRIVA wasimproving but found no realistic assistance!
Seems the Ministry concerned says it listens but is does the opposite!
If ARRIVA is brought on its knees and has to quit the maltese commuter will suffer but unwittingly from inception it was used in the crusade not to assist ARRIVA to succeed
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I wonder how the university of malta never came up with a prototype of a small electric 2-seater car with PV panels on the hood and roof which can be manufactured in malta to reduce costs.
Most cars run around carrying one passenger only most of the time, so a 2 seater would be ideal. As regards to size it must be small enough to fit 2 in one parking space with some gadget to facilitate tight parking. Something smaller than fiat 127. Food for thought.
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I wonder how the university of malta never came up with a prototype of a small electric 2-seater car with PV panels on the hood and roof which can be manufactured in malta to reduce costs.
Most cars run around carrying one passenger only most of the time, so a 2 seater would be ideal. As regards to size it must be small enough to fit 2 in one parking space with some gadget to facilitate tight parking. Something smaller than fiat 127. Food for thought.
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Mr Mizzi was adamant, the Addolorata congestion is horrifying, you must come see for yourself, he told Pat Cox, whose TEN-T vision incorporates no offshore rocks unless it's to bridge them.
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Promote scooters, lower road licence fee.
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Have you tried switching off most traffic lights ? Have you tried modify school opening hours ? Have you tried making smaller roundabouts ? Have you tried opening senseless one ways, which only serve to accommodate certain people ? All these contribute to our congested traffic.
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Grazzi Joe Mizzi talli l-ewwel progett kbir li se taghmel wara tal-Kappara se jkun dak ta madwar l-Addolorata. Ghal Erwieh. Tal-PN dalwaqt se jibdew inewwhu ghax se tonfoq il-flus, ghax ghadu mhux lest ghax ma haddx il-permess ta Simon ecc.
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The solution is simple. Entice children to use more bicycles from a young age, promote scooter use especially battery operated ones, tax cars and fuel and make more space for the public transport to be more reliable and punctual. While at it I would take away all karozzini and horses from the roads.
