Imagine this: Malta’s main political parties, the Nationalist Party (PN) and Labour Party (PL), have unveiled their transport plans for the next five years. Now, picture Momentum, a local NGO known for its no-nonsense approach to sustainability, pouring over these plans, and then dismissing them as ‘fantasy politics’. Intrigued? You should be. Let’s look the nitty-gritty of this political spat.

Momentum has slammed both parties’ transport plans, claiming they lack credibility and are not fit for purpose. The NGO, which focuses on sustainable mobility, argues that the plans are more about political point-scoring than addressing Malta’s pressing transport issues. They’ve even gone as far as to label them ‘fantasy politics’.

The PN has promised to build a third crossing, a ‘green’ bridge, to ease traffic congestion. They’ve also pledged to introduce a congestion charge for vehicles entering Valletta. Momentum, however, is skeptical. They argue that the PN’s plans lack detail and fail to address the root causes of Malta’s transport woes, such as car dependency and inadequate public transport.

“Where are the specifics?” asks Marc Pulis, Momentum’s chairperson. “How many lanes will this bridge have? How will it connect to existing transport infrastructure? And how will they prevent it from becoming another traffic bottleneck?”

The PL, on the other hand, has promised a ‘public transport revolution’. This includes a new bus network, more frequent services, and lower fares. But Momentum isn’t convinced. They argue that the PL’s plans are short on detail and lack a clear timeline for implementation.

“We’ve heard promises of a public transport revolution before,” says Pulis. “But we’ve yet to see any concrete plans on how to achieve this. And with no timeline, it’s hard to hold them accountable.”

So, where does this leave Malta’s transport plans? In a stalemate, it seems. Both parties are pointing fingers at each other, while Momentum is calling for a more broad approach. They want to see a shift towards sustainable mobility, with a focus on walking, cycling, and public transport.

“We need to start thinking about our transport system in terms of people, not just cars,” says Pulis. “And that means investing in infrastructure that encourages active travel and efficient public transport.”

As for the upcoming general election, whether transport will be a key battleground issue. But with Momentum calling for more credible plans, one thing’s for sure: the parties will need to do more than just talk the talk if they want to win over voters.