RTA opens two bus routes to serve key spots in Dubai

The first one, called C1, links Zaabeel Park area with Dubai International Airport (Terminal 2), and the other one, called X25, links Dubai Marina with the new HQ of Public Transport Agency.

Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, CEO of RTA Public Transport Agency stated the Agency is always seeking to expand & develop its services to match the urban expansion & demographic growth witnessed by the UAE in general and Dubai in particular covering all fields & sectors. Gearing the launch of this service with the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, where working hours start & end at similar timings causing traffic bottlenecks, reflects the keen attention of the Agency to ensure smooth flow of traffic, ease traffic congestions and accordingly minimize the percentage of traffic accidents.

"Through launching these two lines, the Agency aims at covering the Central Business Districts (CBD) where lots of local and global businesses and establishments are situated. These companies employ huge numbers of manpower and are visited by many clients every day. Some of them do not use private vehicles such as sales & PR representatives, whose work nature requires making site visits to meet customers and suppliers from other companies," he said.

He added that the buses which will be operated in Route C2, will move from Zaabeel Park across World Trade Center at Sheikh Zayed Rd, then pass through Naturalization & Residency Dept, Burjuman Center, Bur Dubai, Dubai Creek, Salah Uddin Rd, the General HQ of Dubai Police, and from there up to Dubai International Airport (Terminal 2) and vice versa. During the first stage of launching this service, trips will be operated at 10 minutes intervals. Daily trips will start at 05.00 am and continue till 12.00 midnight.

As to the second line Express (X25), buses will kick off from Dubai Marina residential community, which is witnessing fast growth, and pass through Dubai Internet City, Knowledge Village, Jumeira Rd, Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, Naif Rd, Salah Uddin Rd, Damascus Rd till reaching the new HQ of Public Transport Agency (Ex Dubai Transport Office). To cut short trip time, buses will only stop at key areas.

Al Mulla elaborated that in addition to the standard buses, articulated buses with one trailer will be deployed in these two lines so as to accommodate bigger number of commuters. Such buses have low-floor base and offer highest levels of convenience and smooth mobility to persons with special needs. They are also equipped with tinted glass which is capable of deflecting and diminishing sun blaze on commuters. Daily trips on this line also start at 05.00 am and continue through 12.00 midnight maintaining 10 minutes interval between trips.

He further added that the work team of Business Planning & Development Dept and Public Buses Dept at Public Transport Agency had prepared and printed leaflets and brochures to be distributed in various areas in Dubai, including Public Buses Stations, to introduce residents, visitors and tourists to this service so that they would make maximum benefit of the service during their travel between those areas.

He also mentioned that as the RTA is keen to provide safe & smooth transport to all, Public Transport Agency recently launched a new service to operate a new free bus service, where two buses are deployed in a shuttle service around Sheikh Zayed Rd, in the sector between Defence Intersection and World Trade Center, to commute passengers between these two vital areas.

"These services represent the first stage of the plan undertaken by Public Transport Agency to restructure public transport network in Dubai. Given the impending changes to be introduced to its practical plans as of 12 October this year, the Agency is planning to open up more routes targeting business districts and serve them with express and local bus routes. In addition to night bus service, the Agency will deploy bus services round the clock and expand the working hours of the existing buses. More new services will be provided such as labors transport buses making a direct link between (CBDs) and Industrial Areas," said Al Mulla.

Public Transport Agency abolished the two bus routes (9 & 29). In order to expedite bus movement and cut short trip time, the Agency is currently considering allowing passengers to use all bus doors in embarkation & disembarkation instead of using front door for embarkation and rear door for disembarkation. Additionally, weekly & monthly awareness campaigns will be launched urging the public to use public buses network.