Updated | Government to launch 'tidal system' pilot project to address traffic jams
[LIVE-BLOG] MPs agree to hold impromptu debate on worsening traffic situation • Transport Minister Joe Mizzi abroad • Government to experiment with 'tidal system'
A heated discussion between the two sides of the House during the time allocated for parliamentary questions led to the government and opposition to agree on an impromptu debate on the congestion of traffic.
Just 15 minutes before this evening’s parliament sitting started, the Opposition presented a motion urging the House to discuss the issue.
During the PQ time, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said he was “amazed” at how the motion presented by the Opposition “lacked proposals”. Off mic, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was heard telling Opposition leader Simon Busuttil that he was ready to hold the discussion this evening.
Busuttil immediately accepted the call, even though the debate will end without a vote.
During his intervention, Muscat announced that the government would embark on a pilot project - known as the 'tidal system'. The project would see lanes opening up in one direction, and then the other, according to the demands of traffic.
"For example, a road could have three lanes pointing south and one lane pointing north in the morning, and the reverse in the afternoon."
Parliament was suspended for a few minutes to allow both sides to prepare for the debate. Follow the live-blog here:
Once again, it was pointed out that there had been no improvement in the provision of the public transport services while commuters still complained of faulty tallinja cards.
She urged the Transport Minister to publish the contract signed with Autobuses de Leon.
Miriam DalliGalea said Transport Malta had repeatedly missed deadlines on a number of road works, while other projects were hastened due to the upcoming GHOGM and Valletta Summit.
Miriam DalliZammit Lewis accused the Opposition of trying to score political points,
“Our economic performance is doing really well but there is no doubt that we have to work more on traffic. But this motion,” he said, waving the papers in his hand, “does nothing to help. It makes incorrect statements and tries to underline issues which have long been with us.”
Miriam Dalli“We are giving this issue political priority.”
Miriam Dalli“Imagine what would have happened if Sunday’s accident took place on another day,” he said, adding that the traffic congestion had both social and economical impacts.
“I have my doubts on the number of people who will accept a monorail passing above their roofs.”
Busuttil said that the public transport remained a joke: “Ask the commuters themselves whether the service has improved.”
He also claimed that the traffic problem had exposed “a rift” between Education Minister Evarist Bartolo and Transport Minister Joe Mizzi.
Miriam Dalli“We will be addressing a number of issues relating to traffic in next week’s budget.”
Miriam DalliMuscat said the country needed better roads and improved infrastructure to cater for the cars. There was the need for more parking spaces, but conceded this would further encourage the use of cars. He said, the infrastructure was not up to standards and roads works such as the one at Coast Road and the planned works for the Kappara and Marsa junctions were needed.
“Works on the Kappara junction will create further inconvenience. So what do we do? We discard the works?”
Muscat also pointed out that there was a problem even with how the contract department issued contracts for road works: the same contractor would apply for different works, win multiple contractors only for that same contractor working at a stretch to keep up with the works.
He also said that a tax rebate promised in Budget 2015 for parents who make use of school transport “was taken up by operators”.
Statistics show that an average of 40 cars were bought every day over the past two years and a half.
Miriam DalliPorteli said the government was discouraging people from using pedelecs while more should be done to encourage teleworking. Road works, she added, were being carried out without any proper planning.
Miriam DalliPortelli said it was “insensitive” of the government to keep repeating that the traffic problem has been going on for years. She said, that the public transport service was not operating as it should.
Miriam Dalli“We are not politicizing the issue,” she said, as she listed a long list of people who were suffering because of the traffic – including delivery persons, people who were going out just to buy the essentials and students.
Miriam Dalli“But a missed opportunity remains a missed opportunity. We could have addressed this problem four years ago … I believe that alternative means of transport remains the solution.”
Bonnici said people who attended the Notte Bianca event on Saturday were encouraged to make use of public transport. The use of the ferry was extremely popular.
“We should strengthen the sea transport between Valletta and Sliema,” Bonnici said, adding that this was another “missed opportunity”.
Miriam Dalli