Exploring the potential of light rail transit to encourage urban regeneration and support more sustainable commuting to and from Valletta

Abstract

The islands of Malta have for the past two decades experienced steady economic growth. This growth has been fuelled by European Union membership (2004), investments to upgrade the tourism product, joining the euro zone (2008), direct foreign investment into new sectors (primarily in the pharmaceutical and gaming sectors), strengthening of the financial services sector and, in more recent years, the construction industry. The household income increased and so did motorization levels, pushing Malta to the top of the list among European member states for levels of car ownership and use. Despite all this, investment in infrastructure for active modes and public transport priority remains low leading to heavy costs associated with transport. Attard et al. (2015) estimated the external costs of private and commercial vehicle use to be equivalent to four per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012.