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Ricardo’s global sustainable transport team supports governments and international organisations, as well as corporations and trade associations, with policy, strategy and technical advice for all transport sectors across land, sea and air. Our unique combination of deep expertise in policy and technology is helping public and private sector customers around the world as they seek trusted solutions to rapidly evolving, complex sustainable transport challenges.
Ricardo has recently concluded a series of consultation activities to support the revision of Malta’s Transport Master Plan, working with both the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, and Transport Malta. Air pollution and traffic are longstanding, complex challenges for this island nation, but progress on sustainable mobility has been limited. There is now an additional strong imperative to take action, as the European Union has made solving congestion and reducing emissions a condition of the release of recovery funding.
Over six months, consultants from Ricardo developed and delivered a branded engagement strategy beginning with two technical workshops engaging local businesses, associations and transport operators. This was followed by a hugely successful public survey, which received over a thousand responses. Insights were then explored with high level policy officials across a full day seminar in Malta, with findings and priority actions presented to the Transport Minister, Hon. Aaron Farrugia MP.
Tom Nokes, Senior Consultant and Project Manager within the Ricardo Sustainable Transport team said: “It’s great that the government are including citizens and businesses in the policy making process, as we typically see national consultation activities taking place once measures have been drafted. In Malta, everyone has a strong view on transport, and so continuous dialogue is going to be vital in creating social demand for change and finding compromises to ensure actions are taken forward. From residents through to the transport minister, there is a clear understanding of the issues and an appetite for change that should set Malta up well for the future.”
“This wasn’t just about making a technical assessment, but understanding how a plan can be updated and implemented to address EU and national commitments for a more sustainable transport system.”
“The consultation played to our strengths because we needed both technical knowledge and a network of contacts to show how other geographies have tackled similar issues before.
“Now we want to replicate this citizen engagement model elsewhere across Europe or in other small geographies that are heavily reliant on car use and need to reduce their transport footprint.”
If our team can help your organisation with sustainable transport solutions, please contact: enquiry-ee@ricardo.com or marketing.ee@ricardo.com
