ADPD: Fix traffic with bus lanes, not 'magical' AI solutions
Green Party says true solutions lie in making public transport easier and more convenient
ADPD has taken a tacit dig at transport solutions proposed by the government and rival political parties, saying “magical solutions” involving technology, artificial intelligence, or cheap taxis will “not solve anything.”
“The true solution lies in making public transport the most convenient and efficient choice, together with a variety of other modes of transport – clean transport – on safer roads, such as bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters,” ADPD chairperson Sandra Gauci argued.
Gauci was speaking in a statement issued via her party on Saturday morning.
In it, ADPD said that despite clear signs indicating that public transport is in high demand, it is at the bottom of the list for the government, which instead prioritises the use of private vehicles.
Gauci reiterated some of her party’s proposals to fix traffic issues:
- A Bus Rapid Transit system with dedicated bus lines
- More direct and frequent bus routes
- Priority traffic signs
Those plans could be implemented quickly and at a fraction of the cost of other proposals being floated, she said.
But, it warned, “until buses are stuck in lanes shared by private vehicles, we cannot expect miracles to happen and expect efficiency overnight.”
The government has proposed a 15-year, €2.8 billion light rail system linking the airport to St Paul’s Bay. The Nationalist Party pitched a metro system it said would cost €1.4 billion and be completed in five years. Momentum proposed leveraging Malta’s network of Y-Plate cabs to create a national, low-cost ride-sharing system.
ADPD appeared sceptical of these plans.
“Proposals such as cheap or free taxis may seem to be attractive at a glance, but they are hollow solutions that would increase dependence on car usage. Increasing the number of vehicles on the road would lead to greater congestion whilst failing to meet demand,” it said.
The party also dismissed plans to improve traffic management through AI, calling these “magical solutions that…. will not solve anything.”
“No algorithm can keep up with every road and the cars they bear,” it said. “Malta needs leadership that takes courageous decisions, not empty slogans or solutions that offer short-term relief. Change will take time and will be difficult, but it needs to be done.”