Park and ride questionnaire aims to help ease traffic problems

Civil servants have been sent a questionnaire on how they get to work as the transport ministry tackles the problem of traffic congestion, it said on Tuesday.

The purpose of the survey, which will run for around three weeks, the ministry said, is the collection and analysis of information regarding existing infrastructure and public transport services offered. One of the objectives is to gather and analyse information on changes and improvements in relation to meeting the needs of employees moving to and from their workplace.

Among the questions asked is if participants would be interested in using ‘park and ride’ facilities, where they would be able to park and from there get to their destination either by public transportation or a private vehicle.

“The creation of ‘park and ride’ lots aims to alleviate the traffic problem at the entrance of the cities both in the morning and in the afternoon,” the ministry said.

According to the ministry this was part of its ongoing efforts to solve traffic problems and promote public and other sustainable modes of transport.

The questionnaire was sent to civil servants because the size of the sample is considered ideal and representative since it covers all districts.

Though the survey concerns only civil servants, the ministry said the utilisation of the results and the creation of the necessary infrastructures and services for their needs “could improve traffic during the morning and afternoon rush hours during their transition from and to their workplace.”

It added that this initiative could be used by the private sector and consequently by other stakeholders. The results of the survey are expected to be used in existing projects that are underway as well as in future policies and decisions aimed at improving traffic.

The transport ministry said that in addition to this survey it is proceeding with studies in the framework of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans.

The aim of these studies, it said, is to further evaluate the patterns of mobility during peak hours and other ways of easing traffic, such as, for example, flexible working hours and / or teleworking.