Greening the Environment

Greening the Environment Initiatives Awarded

The Port-PVEV Project, an EU funded project demonstrating energy efficiency in port areas and candidate for the GREENING THE ISLANDS AWARDS won the award for the best sustainable transport measure.  The Port PVEV Project was led by Transport Malta and partnered by the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, the Port Authority of Catania, the Municipality of Caltanissetta and the Port of Gela.

The award ceremony was part of a three day international conference entitled Greening the Islands with the participation of a number of small islands in the Mediterranean and beyond. The conference which started last Wednesday, incorporated in it Malta’s Second Electromobility Conference entitled The Air We Share which was also addressed by Hon Minister Joe Mizzi and Hon Minister Leo Brincat. Besides sustainable mobility and climate change issues, the conference is also discussing issues relating to energy and water and brings to the table problems and solutions that are shared by those attending the conference.

The Greening the Islands Award Ceremony included in it an Award Ceremony for those local Councils who last year  participated in the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans Competition organised by Transport Malta, MEPA, the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change.

Valletta has received a € 50,000 grant to implement VATIS, a project which aims to supply commuters with real time information on transport access to and from, and within the city through a mobile APP to be developed by Valletta through the project.

The Local Councils of Cospicua, Paola and Qormi have also been awarded € 10,000 each to be used in purchasing an electric vehicle to support day-to-day duties of the local council while maintaining a low carbon footprint.

Cospicua and St Paul’s Bay Local Councils have been announced as the winners (first and second places respectively) for the 2015 edition of the SUMP Competition. Cospicua has won €50,000 for their proposal to deploy electric vehicles and use them to extend a pilot which offers electric cab taxi services to its residents.  The Council proposes to extend the service to the three surrounding cities of Birgu, Isla and Kalkara as well as improve connections from the ferry landing sites to the city centre. 

St Paul’s Bay Local Council will in turn receive € 30,000 for the proposal to install charging infrastructure dedicated to electric bicycles and motorcycles, as well as information and awareness raising with residents on the advantages of this mode of transport.

Vittoriosa Local Council’s efforts to pedestrianise its city core and thus reduce traffic from the urban centre have been acknowledged.  The Local Council has been awarded the Best Sustainable Transport Measure Award which comes in the form of a € 10,000 grant.

These grants have been made available by the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, MEPA and Transport Malta as part of European Mobility Week Malta events.

Between the 26^th October and 1^st November further events aimed at promoting sustainable mobility are being held in various localities around Malta and Gozo.

Between the 26th and 30th October, Bormla Local Council will be offering free electric taxi services from all parts of Bormla to the city centre.

On 30th October, Għarb Local Council (Gozo) is hosting a workshop on cycling safety and other activities at the main square which shall be pedestrianised for the day.

On 31st October, Għaqda Mużikali Madonna tal-Ġilju will be hosting a workshop on cycling safety, a rodeo for children, an Electric Vehicles Exhibition and other activities at the Mqabba main square which will be closed for traffic for the day.

On 1st November, Birgu Local Council shall host several activities at the city core which will be entirely closed for traffic on the day. Activities include walking tours and electric vehicle tours around Birgu’s historical centre, electric cars and antique bicycles exhibitions, dghajsa tal-pass transport from Birgu to Valletta and Isla will be offered on discounted prices on the day.

Credit goes to the Local Councils of Birgu, Bormla and Għarb andthe Għaqda Madonna tal-Ġilju (Mqabba) for their collaboration.

All the above mentioned events are being held as part of the ‘Do The Right Mix’ Campaign a joint initiative in conjunction with European Mobility Week being promoted by the European Commission to promote urban sustainable mobility.

Transport Malta goes Pink

A big number of Transport Malta Employees worked in pink today.  A donation for Pink October was collected.

The initiative raises awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer.  The funds help to purchase medical equipment for breast cancer treatment.

Transport Malta thanks all for their generosity.

Electric vehicles for Transport Malta

Deployment of Green Infrastructure in Maltese Port Areas

Transport Malta has deployed thirteen full electric vehicles as part of its general fleet ranging from crew and panel vans, passenger vehicles and quadricycles. These vehicles are used as part of enforcement, maintenance and courier duties carried out by the Authority. Transport Malta also installed a Photovoltaic Plant at the Malta Transport Centre covering a surface area of 1,290 square metres.

These initiatives have been implemented as part of an EU funded project entitled PORT-PVEV which has been co-financed at a rate of 85% through the Operational Programme Italy-Malta 2007-2013.  The project, led by Transport Malta, brought together the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, the Port Authority of Catania and the Province of Caltanissetta. 

Through the project, the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure installed three solar electric car charging stations at Ċirkewwa ferry terminal, Ta’ Xbiex Marina and Deep Water Quay car park.   The solar charging stations provide direct sun-to-car electricity through the solar power produced on site which is stored in on site 24kWh lithium-ion batteries.  Through inverters, the battery transfers electricity to charging electric vehicles.  Any extra electricity is absorbed by the grid.  The solar car charging stations are able to produce over 3000 charging events per annum at full carbon neutrality.

Through these initiatives over 200 tonnes of CO₂ emissions are saved annually from Maltese port areas.

These results have been made public during the second national electromobility conference held yesterday at Phoenicia hotel.  The conference is being organised in conjunction with Greening the Islands, an annual, travelling conference highlighting solutions for sustainability for islands. The event is being held between the 28^th and 30^th October and focuses on transport, energy and water.  It aims at implementing an interdisciplinary approach between these key areas of green economy.

National Flood Relief in Triq L-Imdina

Works related to the National Flood Relief Project by the Works Division

Works on the National Flood Relief Project in Triq L-Imdina, from Triq Oliver Agius to Triq Notabile direction to Rabat, will be carried out this weekend.

The road will be closed to traffic as from Friday 30 October at 21:00hrs until Sunday 1 November at 10:00hrs.

Light vehicles will be diverted onto Triq Oliver Agius and onto Triq Notabile. Heavy vehicles will be diverted onto Vjal De Paule, Triq Birkirkara, Triq Dun Karm Debono and Triq Notabile.

Motorists are advised to proceed with caution. Any inconvenience is regretted.

Resurfacing Triq il-Kostituzzjoni Mosta

Road Maintenance in Triq il-Kostituzzjoni Mosta

Transport Malta will be resurfacing Triq il-Kostituzzjoni Mosta.

Works will be carried out at night between 20:00hrs and 04:30hrs. Works will commence tonight and are expected to be ready during the night between coming Saturday and Sunday.

The road will be closed during these hours but will be accessible during the remaining hours.

If possible avoid the area during these times.  Drivers are to follow the signs and instructions by officials on the field.

Any inconvenience is regretted.

Transport Malta saves €30million and the Coast Road Project. No EU funds lost.

Transport Malta refers to the various media reports regarding the European audit report by the European Court of Auditors recommending withholding of funds for the Coast Road project. 

The Authority clarifies the following:

• The Coast Road construction project tender was published on 19^th February 2013;

• The cheapest technically and administratively compliant bids submitted totalled circa €83 million;

• Transport Malta, under direct guidance and approval from the Director of Contracts, entered into a discussion procedure with the cheapest bidders to reduce the bid from €83 million to €53 million saving €30million and saving the project itself in the process. The entire procedure and methodology used was always pre-approved and under  the guidance of the Director of Contracts , and at no point was Transport Malta asked, directed or instructed not to proceed with the process;

• The adjudication procedure adopted is not a novelty and falls within the public procurement rules in force at that time. All public procurement procedures were strictly  adhered to and the entire evaluation process was under the continuous guidance of the Department of Contracts.

Road Maintenance in Triq Telgħet ix-Xemxija

Transport Malta will be maintaining parts of Triq Telgħet ix-Xemxija St. Paul’s Bay, tonight and tomorrow night. Works will be carried out between 19:30hrs and 06:00hrs.

The road will not be closed to traffic but parking will not be permitted along the stretch of road where works will be carried out. 

If possible avoid the area during these times.  Drivers are to follow the signs and instructions by officials.

Any inconvenience is regretted.

Works on Tidal Lane at Vjal Sir Paul Boffa

Works on Tidal Lane at Vjal Sir Paul Boffa

Works at Vjal Sir Paul Boffa Paola shall continue tonight. Works on the finishing off of the footpaths and trenches for the mechanical bollards will be carried out at night from 20:00hrs onwards all week.

Road towards Paola will be closed to traffic during works. Traffic will proceed towards Vjal Santa Luċija, Paola.

We apologise for any inconvenience and remind all drivers to follow road signage and traffic regulations.

Resurfacing in Triq il-Mediterran, Valletta

Road Maintenance in Triq il-Mediterran Valletta

Transport Malta will be resurfacing Triq il-Mediterran Valletta.

Works will be carried out from today until Wednesday 28 October.  The road will be closed between 21:00hrs and 05:00hrs.  The road will be accessible during the remaining hours.

Vehicular traffic coming from Triq l-Assedju l-Kbir will be diverted onto Triq il-Merkanti, Triq San Kristofru and Triq il-Mediterran.

Vehicular traffic coming from Xatt Lascaris will be diverted onto Triq San Duminku, Triq ir-Repubblika and Triq Marsamxett.

If possible avoid the area during these times.  Any inconvenience is regretted.

Final phases of asphalting for the Coast Road project

Photo by David Camilleri

Final phases of asphalting for the Coast Road project

Most of Triq il-Kosta has now been asphalted and is accessible. Vehicles can go from Salini all the way to Pembroke.

The last two layers of asphalt at the junction with the road leading to t’Alla w Ommu will be laid tomorrow and Thursday.  

There will be no access to and from t’Alla w Ommu tomorrow between 09.30hrs and 16:00hrs. Vehicles from Kennedy Drive will be diverted onto the new asphalted carriageway along the Salt Pans at Salini.

The same traffic diversion will be in place again on Thursday, between 9.30hrs and 20:00hrs.

We apologise for any inconvenience and remind all drivers to follow road signage and traffic regulations.

Public Transport

Route 222 – Ċirkewwa to Sliema via San Giljan shall still serve Xemxija.