Malta in Motion Overview

What is Malta in Motion

Malta in Motion is about connecting people, places, and opportunities across the Maltese Islands. It is a phased, long-term national plan to deliver a connected transport system that works today, grows stronger over the next decade and supports a Rapid Transit System (RTS) for future generations.

Malta in Motion is grounded in the National Integrated Transport Plan (NITP), which sets out a single, coordinated approach to planning and delivering the transport system over the long term. The NITP brings together national transport policies and strategies into a clear implementation roadmap, ensuring the RTS, bus network, ferries, walking and cycling, roads and parking all work as one integrated system. Rather than planning each element in isolation, the NITP provides a shared strategic direction so that investments and actions are aligned and deliver visible improvements year by year.

The NITP is underpinned by five strategic pillars, applied across all workstreams:

• Travel choice
• Liveability and wellbeing
• Inclusive and safe places
• Reliability and efficiency
• Resilience over time

These pillars guide the development of the plan, aligning all modes and initiatives to a shared vision and delivering coordinated, system-wide outcomes for people, places and the economy.

Key Benefits

Malta in Motion will provide attractive ways to move with travel options that give you choice and flexibility. This will mean more people can rely on public transport to get them when and where they want to go, or people can confidently choose to cycle or walk. This will reduce the number of people travelling by car and therefore reduce travel times for those who still rely on driving.

This project will deliver simple, dependable journeys with predictable travel times and connections across the network for improved wellbeing, liveability and inclusion. All transport projects will be fully integrated with the urban infrastructure for the country to create safe, welcoming, vibrant and greener spaces where people can move with confidence, connect and enjoy places together.

This integrated approach that looks at all ways in which people travel will build a viable, adaptable and financially sustainable system for people and the economy into the future

Background

Malta in Motion is a continuation of earlier work for the Malta Metro, with a Rapid Transit System (RTS) remaining at the heart of the plan.

In 2021, Transport Malta proposed a metro system, Malta Metro. Since then, circumstances beyond the Government’s control including rising construction costs linked to the Russia‑Ukraine conflict and the impacts of COVID‑19, have significantly changed economic conditions, meaning the original proposal is no longer feasible as planned.

The Government remains committed to delivering a high‑quality transport system and has tasked the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works and Transport Malta with developing a more affordable and deliverable solution.

This work has evolved into Malta in Motion, delivering a nationally integrated transport plan that, for the first time, brings all modes of transport together into a connected system. It includes a hybrid RTS, combining underground, street‑level and elevated sections to improve cost efficiency and deliverability.

This is an evolution of earlier work, not a restart, responding to today’s realities where travelling across Malta is impacted by traffic and congestion and walking and cycling aren’t easy options for most journeys, while maintaining long‑term ambitions.

Strategic Alignment

Malta in Motion delivers on Malta’s long‑term transport policy objectives, including the National Transport Strategy 2050 and the National Transport Master Plan 2030.

Through the NTIP, existing and emerging transport policies are aligned to ensure all modes and initiatives work together to deliver a fully integrated transport system.

Process

Malta in Motion is being developed through a careful, evidence led process, so that decisions are affordable, deliverable and provide the best value for the public.

The current phase focuses on building the evidence needed to make robust decisions, including:

• Updated travel demand analysis and economic modelling
• Refinement of the RTS concept and route options
• Preparation for the redesigned bus network and upcoming concession
• Geo technical investigations, particularly for underground sections

This work will take approximately 18 months. Due to the scale and complexity of a hybrid RTS, combining underground, street level and elevated sections, detailed alignments and station locations can only be confirmed once this phase is complete.

At the same time, early improvements to buses, ferries, cycling and parking will move ahead in parallel, so people begin to see benefits while longer term planning continues. The process also draws on community and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that technical analysis is informed by lived experience and local context.

Information will be published at key milestones, once it is accurate, complete and ready to share.

What transport types are included in the plan?

1. A Rapid Transit System (RTS) that provides seamless, high-capacity connections will be developed and transform how people travel.
2. The bus network will be redesigned to improve reliability, capacity and efficiency with infrastructure to allow buses to bypass traffic hotspots.
3. The maritime network will be developed to realise the potential to connect Malta’s communities along the coast.
4. The road network will be improved to increase efficiency and equity of road space allocation and smooth traffic flow across key corridors and junctions.
5. Parking will be better managed to support access, local economic activity and a more efficient transport system.
6. Active Mobility improvements will enable walking and cycling for short trips and make it easier to get to and from public transport stops, stations and terminals
7. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) will implement smart processes and technology to support fair and efficient flow of movement as part of a connected transport system.

Timeline

Malta in Motion is a long‑term, phased plan, with delivery extending over the next 15 years. Change will happen over the short, medium and long term. Some improvements will be visible early, while larger, more complex aspects take longer to plan and deliver.

• Immediate term (1–2 years)

Early improvements to support everyday journeys, including new bus services, expanded ferry services, new cycling infrastructure and park and ride options. Better connections between buses and ferries will begin, alongside RTS station design.

• Short term (around 5 years)

Continued improvements across the network, including a redesigned bus system with better reliability and convenience, upgraded ferry terminals, safer walking and cycling routes, and better managed parking and road network. Integration between different ways of travelling will be stronger and easier to use. RTS planning procedures will begin.

• Medium term (around 10 years)

A more connected and resilient transport system that continues to adapt to growth, new technology and changing travel patterns. Construction of La Valette Line will be underway and operations will start between the airport to Valletta, with transport and land use planning working more closely together.

• Long term (15 years and beyond)

A nationally connected transport network, with a future RTS at its core, linking buses, ferries, walking, cycling and parking into one seamless system.

Delivery is phased to ensure early benefits now, while continuing to strengthen and expand the transport system over time.

Consultation and Engagement

Designing a transport system that works for people starts with listening. Transport Malta recognises the impact on communities across Malta and is committed to meaningful, ongoing engagement to ensure the plan is responsive to local needs, national priorities and everyday travel experiences.

We are committed to an open and transparent process and will engage with residents, communities and stakeholders, whose input will play a central role in shaping the plan and will complement evidence-based research and expert analysis.

There will be opportunities to provide feedback at key milestones, with consultation details shared in advance on the project website and official channels. At this stage, the focus is on sharing information about the plan, process, and timeline, while preparing for consultation activities. Malta in Motion will remain flexible, evolving where possible in response to feedback, new evidence, changing travel and land use patterns and Malta’s evolving needs.

We will keep you updated at every stage with the latest information available.