AD augurs that promised public transport improvements materialise

Photo: The Malta independent
Photo: The Malta independent

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party, is a responsible party which discusses issues on their merits. As the party had done on the introduction of the Arriva service, the party augurs that the new public transport opertor offers an efficient service which encourages more people to use public transport for commuting.

Ralph Cassar, AD spokesperson on transport, energy and infrastructure said:”It is crystal clear that the acute failure of the public transport system came about as a result of years of neglect, followed by a system with a reduced service of longer routes, a chronic shortage of buses and stingy financing of the system. Some quick
research of public transport systems in countries and cities for which such systems are key to improving citizens’ quality of life shows that good systems are heavily financed by public authorities. Those who hold the fight against air pollution and disease at heart, those who understand the link between a good system and a better quality of life, and those who understand what a modern public transport system in a modern country entails realise that substantial public funding is
required and discuss possible sources of funding instead of engaging
in the usual petty politics so common in Malta.”

“As usual PL and PN avoid discussing the real issues and throw around half truths and childish arguments. The Minister’s game of giving information in bits and pieces is also not conducive to real dialogue.”

Ralph Cassar added that the reduction in prices for some tickets, such as the weekly ticket for children and senior citizens and the 3 month student ticket. The substantial increase in buses, which it seems will be EURO6, is also necessary and positive.

Although the price of the two hour ticket will be reduced substantially, AD would have preferred for the option of a day ticket to remain. “The more choice of different types of tickets the better to encourage more people to use the system. With different types of tickets commuters can choose the tariff system most suited to their commuting patterns. Additionally, while the system of more expensive tickets if bought on board makes sense, this system will only be fair if it is accompanied by an extensive system of automatic ticketing machines, shops and public transport staff selling tickets all around Malta and Gozo.”AD augurs that the promised improvement of the public transport system finally happens. For this to happen it must also be accompanied by Government policies which reduce traffic on our roads, measures to prioritise public transport on our roads and that Government abandons its shortsighted policy of road building and widening and of more parking in already congested and polluted localities.
Alternattiva Demokratika, bħala partit responsabbli u li bil-kontra tal-partiti l-oħra tipprattika verament ‘stil ġdid ta’ politika’, bħal ma għamlet bl-introduzzjoni tas-servizz tal-Arriva, tawgura li l-operatur ġdid tat-trasport pubbliku joffri servizz effiċjenti u li jaqdi l-ħtiġijiet tal-pubbliku.Ralph Cassar, kelliem għat-trasport, l-enerġija u l-infrastruttura ta’ AD qal:”Huwa ċar daqs il-kristall li l-kawża tal-falliment tas-sistema tat-trasport pubbliku ġiet minħabba snin twal ta’ abbandun, segwita b’sistema b’servizzi mnaqqsa, b’nuqqas kroniku ta’ karozzi tal-linja u b’nuqqas kbir ta’ finanzjar adegwat tas-sistema. Ftit riċerka dwar
sistemi ta’ trasport pubbliku ta’ pajjiżi li jagħtu importanza lil dan is-servizz pubbliku juri li sistemi tajbin huma dawk li huma iffinanzjati b’mod sostanzjali mill-awtoritajiet pubbliċi. Minflok kritika għall-ammont ta’ finanzjament, min huwa serju, min irid
inaqqas it-tniġġis tal-arja, min irid kwalita ta’ ħajja aħjar u min huwa favur servizzi pubbliċi denji ta’ pajjiż modern għandu jiddiskuti u jagħmel proposti ta’ sorsi ta’ finanzjament għat-trasport pubbliku.”“Minn naħa l-oħra Alternattiva Demokratika tinnota li bħas-soltu, l-PL u l-PN minflok jiddiskutu s-suġġett mhedija f’battibekki pwerili – bit-tnejn li huma jgħidu nofs veritajiet u bil-Ministru jilgħab il-logħba li joħroġ l-informazzjoni bl-iskossi. B’din it-tip ta’ politiċi se nibqgħu pajjiż tal-ħabba gozz.”

Ralph Cassar żied jgħid li t-tnaqqis tal-prezz tal-biljetti ta’ ġimgħa għat-tfal u l-anzjani, u t-tnaqqis fil-biljetti ta’ tlett xhur għall-istudenti huwa pożittiv. Iż-żieda sostnzjali fin-numru ta’ karozzi tal-linja, li mid-dehra se jkunu EURO6, huwa wkoll pożittiv.

Alternattiva Demokratika, kienet tippreferi li jkun hemm ukoll l-għażla ta’ ‘day ticket’. “Aħna nqisu li aktar ma jkun hemm għażla ta’ biljetti u tariffi differenti aħjar, biex dak li jkun jista’ jagħżel it-tip ta’ biljett li l-aktar jaqbel għal mod ta’ vjaġġar tiegħu. Barra minn hekk is-sistema ta’ biljetti aktar għolja jekk mixtrija minn fuq tal-linja tagħmel sens, imma tkun ġusta biss jekk ikun hemm network estensiv ta’ magni awtomatiċi, ħwienet u staff tal-operatur li jbiegħu l-biljett madwar Malta u Għawdex kollha”.AD tawgura li t-titjib imwiegħed fit-trasport pubbliku jseħħ. Biex iseħħ hemm bżonn ukoll politika li tnaqqas it-traffiku fit-toroq, li tal-linja jkollhom prijorita fit-toroq u li l-Gvern jabbanduna l-politika populista ta’ bini ta’ toroq ġodda u ta’ żieda ta’ parking f’lokalitajiet diġa mifqugħa bit-traffiku u t-tniġġis.
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