Newsroom
For drivers across Cyprus, the daily battle with traffic could be about to get serious attention from the government.
New Transport, Communications and Works Minister Evanthia Tsolaki has put cutting congestion near the top of her agenda, saying the ministry is examining a range of measures that could make journeys less frustrating and reduce the amount of time people spend stuck on the roads.
No single solution has been chosen yet. Tsolaki said proposals already being discussed will be assessed for their practicality before the ministry announces which ones it intends to pursue.
One option is particularly familiar to commuters: expanding the Park and Ride network.
Tsolaki said Park and Ride is among the proposals that will be examined, adding that the system can help take cars off busy roads. The ministry also plans to meet public transport operators to look at whether bus services can run more frequently.
For people who face packed roads during the morning and afternoon rush, that could be one of the more immediate ways of making public transport a realistic alternative to driving.
The government is also relying on major road projects to tackle some of the country's most persistent bottlenecks.
In Limassol, a comprehensive programme has been drawn up covering the Northern Limassol Bypass, the completion and upgrading of key roads and a series of priority transport and infrastructure projects.
The plan follows discussions between the ministry and Limassol Municipality under Tsolaki's predecessor, Alexis Vafeades, and is intended to bring several road interventions together rather than treating individual congestion points separately.
Tsolaki said the ministry would also examine approaches being used in other European countries, meaning measures already tested elsewhere could be considered for Cyprus.
Her first meetings include discussions with the Department of Road Transport on congestion and other transport issues that have recently attracted public and media attention.
Roads are not the only item on her list. Tsolaki said she also needs to be briefed on outstanding matters involving Cyprus' airports and ports before setting priorities across the ministry.
But for motorists, the immediate question is much simpler: how quickly can something be done about the traffic?
Tsolaki said she intends to continue work started under Vafeades, while stressing that major decisions will be preceded by consultation with the relevant parties.
For now, the ministry has several possible answers on the table: more Park and Ride capacity, more frequent buses, new and upgraded roads and infrastructure projects designed to relieve some of Cyprus' most troublesome traffic points.
The challenge will be turning those plans into changes that drivers can actually feel during the morning commute.
