RTA reviews its feats for Q3 2007

"The Public Transport Agency is dedicated to lay down an integrated plan to develop the services provided by public transport buses, through delivering a number of new buses including the articulated and double-decker buses imported from the best global origins in order to cover 95% of Dubai's urban areas during a maximum period of three years, and Inter-city buses after delivering new and sophisticated buses linking Dubai with the capital Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Kamiah and Fujairah along with other cities, including Al Ain, Al Thed Masafi and Jebel Ali, Said Al Dosari.

He explained that the RTA had bought 170 double-decker buses, 300 articulated buses and 150 traditional ones, pointing out that the first batch of articulated buses was delivered in August 2007 and the second batch would be delivered in June 2008, the traditional buses would be delivered in December 2007 and June 2008 while the double-deckers would be delivered in December 2008.

Al Dosari added that 45 new and sophisticated buses had entered the Inter-city service in May this year and 125 buses to be added early next year, which would provide advanced services comparable to those provided in flights, besides providing wireless Internet services, fax, telephone, screens bath rooms. The floors of the buses would be low designed to suit the movement of people with special needs. The decision to increase the fleet of Inter-city buses is to keep pace with the growing number of passengers as a result of the population growth witnessed by the UAE, and we expect to see the number of passengers increased to up to 11 million passengers by end of this year.

He noted that the Public Transport in all departments always seeks to develop its work mechanism through a number of innovative solutions based on the strategic initiatives launched by the RTA stemming from its vision to provide 'Safe and Smooth Transport for All,' in addition to the development of the quality of the services it provides to the public , commensurate with the status of Dubai regionally and globally in all sectors of trade, economy, service, finance, real estate, tourism and other vital sectors.

To ensure the provision of excellent services to the users of public buses, Al Dosari reaffirmed that the Agency is working on the preparation of project studies of the (Bus Master Plan), whose recommendations would be adopted in the development of public buses service.

The project includes several chapters to provide rapid and secure mobility services including the application modern techniques such as (AVM & OCC), and the development of the public transport network, the improvement of operating efficiency and effectiveness, in addition to address the needs for buses and their functional specifications, identify the appropriate infrastructure, study and develop the fares currently applied, develop the quality of the public data, and marketing, taking advantage of technological alternatives, let alone the construction of six new stations to accommodate buses in Jebel Ali, Al Qouz, Motor City, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Jebel Ali Airport and Al Qusais.