Alternattiva Demokratika launches sustainable mobility plan

Co-authored by Ralph Cassar and Denise Attard-Sacco, the mobility plan seeks to provide sustainable planning and an improved quality of life for the residents.

AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio said that a sustainable mobility plan should be adopted by authorities and local councils to ensure that quality of life of residents is given top priority.

"As things stand, Malta is characterised by too much traffic, too much pollution and lack of space for pedestrians," Briguglio said. "A sustainable transport policy would ensure safe speed limits and proper access to children, the elderly, persons with disability and cyclists, among others. Public transport should be more accessible to help reduce dependency on cars."

AD Attard local councillor Ralph Cassar said that Transport Malta had replied about the proposal for 30kph in all residential streets. "I am pleased to note that the concept has been accepted in at least some streets, although I would have preferred had all residential streets in all the residential local streets are all designated as 30kph zones," Cassar said.

"The concept of 'home zones' has also been adopted as a concept in Transport Malta's consultation document on speed limits."

On the plan, Cassar said it proposes ways to tackle issues of sustainable mobility through projects which local councils - with the help of other authorities - can embark on.

"The ideas in the report have been tried and tested elsewhere. The report is only the start - we hope it inspires residents, decision makers and organisations to join forces, make proposals and work together to start tackling the problems heavy traffic in our localities is causing," Cassar said.

The report is being sent to Transport Malta and local councils.