•           ⁠E-bike incentive doubled for 16 to 18-year-olds

•           Potential reintroduction of residents’ parking schemes

•           Absolute guarantee to Zurrieq Residents No Government land will be developed

Prime Minister and Labour Leader Robert Abela has announced a wide-ranging package of proposals for transport and infrastructure, built on a long-term plan.

Addressing a news conference as part of the electoral campaign, Abela said transport remains one of the country’s key challenges, but insisted that the answer is not to punish people into changing their habits. Instead, he said Labour’s approach is based on incentives, alternatives and a holistic plan that works over the long-term.

The main measures announced include:

•⁠  ⁠Malta in Motion, the first holistic transport plan of its kind for Malta, already being implemented through different systems that complement one another.

•⁠  ⁠A rapid transport system adapted for Malta, planned and implemented over a 15-year period.

•⁠  ⁠A new Transport Malta digital app bringing together all public transport options and showing full journeys across buses, ferries, Y-plates, micro-mobility services such as cycling, and eventually the rapid transport system.

•⁠  ⁠More park and rides and shuttle buses, including links to ferry terminals.

•⁠  ⁠A mobility wallet to be introduced in the next legislature, with mobility credits earned when using alternative transport and redeemed on various products and services, including transport.

•⁠  ⁠A careful review of the bus route network, keeping what works while introducing new or different routes where needed.

•⁠  ⁠More routes using smaller buses to reach town and village centres, and greater frequency where public transport is most used.

•⁠  ⁠More punctual services designed to connect better with ferry services and, eventually, the rapid transit system.

•⁠  ⁠Continued electrification of the public transport fleet, with Gozo’s fleet targeted to become fully electric this year.

•⁠  ⁠Further expansion of the fast ferry network, with work already underway to include Marsaskala and extended operating hours.

•⁠  ⁠More parking initiatives, including underground parking beneath open space projects where possible.

•⁠  ⁠A call by Transport Malta for private parking areas that are normally closed at night to be made available.

•⁠  ⁠Studies with residents, local councils and commercial communities to introduce residents’ parking schemes according to locality needs, without any link to paid parking systems.

•⁠  ⁠Removal of licence-related fees for motorcycles with engines not exceeding 350cc.

•⁠  ⁠Doubling the e-bike incentive to €1,300 for young people aged between 16 and 18.

•⁠  ⁠From 2029 onwards, every new vehicle used for passenger transport, including rental cars, must be electric or hybrid.

•⁠  ⁠Continued strong investment in Malta’s road network, including the Barrani/Bir id-Deheb junction, Paceville junction, Qormi Imgħallaq junction and improvements to the Burmarrad junction.

•⁠  ⁠A €55 million investment in a new breakwater at St Elmo to reduce wave impact in the Grand Harbour.

•⁠  ⁠Extension of shore-to-ship technology, already being implemented in the Grand Harbour, to the Freeport.

•⁠  ⁠Maintenance and extension of the Delimara-side breakwater in Marsaxlokk to provide better shelter for vessels.

•⁠  ⁠Regeneration of the Grand Harbour as part of Malta Vision 2050, focused on four zones, starting with the Marsa Menqa and Customs House.

•⁠  ⁠Strengthening Gozo connectivity by more than 25%, including a completely new Gozo Channel fleet, a cargo vessel, an air taxi service after completion of the airstrip, more fast ferry links, improved infrastructure at Mġarr and Marsalforn, and an on-demand bus service in Gozo.

Abela said Malta has a track record in infrastructure, pointing to projects such as the Airport Junction, Central Link, Marsa, Kappara and the ongoing Msida project, together with several residential roads.

However, he said transport must now be addressed through a broader plan that combines different systems. He described Malta in Motion as a realistic 15-year plan developed with international consultants of the highest reputation, bringing together buses, sea transport, cycling, walking and light rail into one integrated system.

He noted that public transport already carries around 250,000 passengers daily, while last year around 400 additional daily trips were added.

The next step, he said, is a careful revision of the bus route network so that routes become more efficient, more frequent where demand is strongest, and better linked to ferries and future rapid transport.

On public transport, Abela highlighted that Malta is one of only two countries in Europe, together with Luxembourg, to offer completely free public transport. He said Labour has now added free public transport by sea, with the Sliema to Buġibba route also operating free of charge, and a pledge that passengers crossing on foot with Gozo Channel will also travel for free if Labour is entrusted with another mandate.

He said the new Sliema and Buġibba route has already carried 12,300 passengers in its first days of operation, showing the potential of the fast ferry network.

On mass transport, Abela said the concept had evolved with expert input to ensure that Malta develops a system that is affordable, sustainable and implementable. He referred to work carried out with ARUP through a value engineering process.

He said geotechnical studies started on the first identified line, linking the airport, Valletta, Qormi, Mater Dei, the University and St Paul’s Bay, with other stops in additional localities.

Abela said Government will continue creating more parking spaces where possible, including through underground parking beneath open spaces, and spoke about the introduction of residents’ free parking schemes.

Licence-related fees for motorcycles up to 350cc will be removed, while the e-bike incentive for 16 to 18-year-olds will double to €1,300.

He also announced a €55 million investment in a new St Elmo breakwater.

Abela said one of the main targets of the Int Malta manifesto is to strengthen Gozo connectivity by more than 25%. This will includes investment in a completely new Gozo Channel fleet, including a cargo vessel, the introduction of an air taxi service following completion of the airstrip, more fast ferry links, improved infrastructure at Mġarr and Marsalforn, and an on-demand bus service for Gozo.

In answering questions from the media, Prime Minister Robert Abela gave an absolute guarantee to Zurrieq Residents that no Government land will be developed. This was in relation to the Government-owned land in Nigret in Zurrieq, where a development is being proposed.