The Maltese Government has invested heavily
in the transport sector along the years, including moving towards more
efficient transport infrastructure and sustainable transport modes. In line
with this, within the framework of the CIVITAS DESTINATIONS Project (September
2016 - May 2021), which sought to integrate sustainable tourism and mobility
strategies in six European island locations, the Valletta Region started to
develop a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP). The Valletta Region is made
up of the Northern Harbour and Southern Harbour Regions and thus incorporates
the localities of Birgu, Birkirkara, Bormla, Fgura, Floriana, Gżira,
Ħamrun, Isla, Kalkara, Luqa, Marsa, Msida, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qormi, San
Ġiljan, San Ġwann, Sliema, Santa Luċija, Santa Venera, Swieqi, Ta’ Xbiex,
Tarxien, Valletta, Xgħajra and Żabbar.
Phase I of this project included stakeholder
engagement through which the transport challenges were identified and a set of
measures were developed. Following extensive consultation with the local
councils concerned, inter-governmental entities and stakeholders, the second
phase was initiated where the drafted measures are revisited following the
feedback received and new data and studies that have now become available. The
public is now being invited to submit feedback on the measures being proposed.
This exercise forms part of a larger project
where a SUMP will be developed for each of the remaining Regions in Malta and
Gozo. The SUMP for the Valletta Region carries a 31st December 2022 deadline,
linked to Milestone 2.4 under Malta’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (Reform
C2-R3: Expediting the finalisation and implementation of a SUMP for the
Valletta Region).