‘Bus rapid transit system is most logical mass transport solution’

A bus rapid transit system that gives priority to buses over private cars is the most practical, cost-effective method of mass transport, ADPD has said. 

A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is a faster, more reliable kind of bus service that runs in its own lane and stops at specially designed stations. It is meant to work more like a metro or tram, helping buses avoid traffic and keep to schedule. 

At a meeting earlier in October, Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition leader Alex Borg agreed that the two parties must work together to address the country’s traffic problem through the implementation of a new mass transport system. 

While discussions on such a system have often centred on a metro, ADPD said it has long insisted that a BRT is the way to go. 

“We have not shied away from telling the truth about the need for a shift in mentality when it comes to mobility. The other parties do not have the political courage or will to do the right thing,” ADPD chairperson Sandra Gauci said at a press conference on Saturday. 

ADPD secretary general Ralph Cassar said that a truly sustainable transport policy must put people first, rather than cars. 

“Malta’s roads have long been dominated by private vehicles, resulting in congestion, pollution, and unsafe conditions for vulnerable road users. ADPD - The Green Party believes that the country urgently needs a mobility revolution based on efficiency, inclusiveness, and environmental responsibility,” he said. 

The party’s vision for a BRT, he added, would connect communities safely and efficiently, reduce dependence on private cars, and align with Malta’s climate goals.  However, this would require a decisive modal shift toward public transport, cycling, walking, and shared mobility.  

“Malta cannot afford more short-term, car-centric policies. What we need is a clear, sustained commitment to sustainable mobility, a shift from road-widening to road-sharing, from traffic jams to public access, and from dependency to resilience. 

ADPD also called for a national rainwater collection programme. 

“For a country that is moving toward desertification and depending on reverse osmosis, we have shown how weak we are in conserving rainwater. Our forefathers were wiser than we are: they built aqueducts, cisterns, and wells to collect every drop of water. We, on the other hand, have ignored this, and it is clearly visible on our roads every time it rains,” Gauci said.