Cap. 588 Art. 5Functions.

(1) Without prejudice to any other power or function conferred to it by this Act or by any other law, it shall be the function of the Agency:

(a) to implement national plans for road and maritime infrastructure construction and road infrastructure strategies;

(b) to implement, whether by itself or through any person or group of persons, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, applicable strategies or master plans however so described, relating to road construction and road and maritime infrastructure;

(c) to occupy, plan, design, construct, re-construct, repair, widen and renew any road, maintain the upkeep of, improve, manage, administer restore any road and maritime infrastructure and to manage and control any necessary road works, to do any works however so described, including but not limited to the planning and programming thereof and the planning and programming for the rebuilding and restoration of any existing roads and maritime infrastructure:

Provided that the property and undertakings owned by the Authority for Transport in Malta, or owned by the Government and used by the said Authority, on which the Agency shall undertake the mentioned works, shall remain the Authority’s assets:

Provided that where the maintenance of any local road is by law the responsibility of a local council, the maintenance of such road shall not, to the extent of such responsibility, be the function of the Agency:

Provided further that the Agency shall have no obligations in relation to any private roads;

(d) to erect, construct, develop and maintain on any road, the following:

(i) poles and light fittings;

(ii) road traffic safety and management facilities, including signs or signals, road markings and traffic calming measures, traffic control and management equipment, related lighting equipment and other road traffic facilities used for traffic management and control:

Provided that the operation and maintenance of permanent electronic road traffic signs or signals, electronic traffic measures, electronic traffic control equipment and related lighting equipment and any other electronic road traffic facilities used for road safety and traffic management shall be vested in, and shall be the sole responsibility of, the Authority for Transport in Malta;

(e) to advise the Government on the formulation of policies relating to road infrastructure in Malta and to make recommendations to the Government on action which in the opinion of the Agency would be expedient in relation to matters within its functions.

(2) Without prejudice to the above, the Minister may, from time to time, give to the Agency directions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, to be followed by the Agency in the carrying out of its functions under this Act, and the Agency shall, as soon as practicable, give effect to all such directions.

(3) It shall be the responsibility of the Minister to ensure that the Agency is fully informed of strategic directions of Government in relation to this Act, and it shall be the duty of the Agency through its proper organs to properly execute such policies.

(4) For the proper performance of its functions under this Act, the Agency shall consult with the relevant local council and be empowered to collaborate with any other person, including other agencies, public authorities and Government departments, and to make arrangements for mutual exchange of information and for other forms of assistance.

(5) In pursuance of its functions under this Act, the Agency shall regulate its own procedure.