RTA invites companies to participate in a tender to purchase 1616 new and sophisticated buses

This is in order to enhance its current fleet of buses to broaden and support the public transport and mass transit in the emirate of Dubai.

Engineer Abdurrahman Al Dossari, CEO of the Public Transport Agency the new buses would enjoy different sizes and designs with the highest standards of safety and security, in addition to the best of modern techniques such as loud speaking the following position, the system of counting the number of bus users, the system of positioning the buses locations connected to the control center at the RTA, let alone the internal and external monitors. With this transaction, the number of buses would rise to the 2500 buses in the year 2009 guaranteeing the coverage rate of 95% of the Emirate of Dubai with the public transport services and feeding the Dubai Metro stations with the lines required to raise the proportion of trips made by mass transit.

"The RTA is always committed to provide the best methods and innovative solutions, which are based on the finest modern concepts and strategies used globally in this field, and we are seeking, through our passion and commitment to excellence, to be the reliable name that stands behind most of the leading service projects In Dubai since the public transport sector is considered one of the important pillars and essential indicators for the drive of progress and urban development taking place in the UAE in general and Dubai in particular in various areas and sectors, including the service sector. The Public Transport Agency through the purchase of the buses aims to increase the percentage of trips made by mass transit to 30% by providing mass transport alternatives characterized by high quality, cost-effectiveness and comprehensive coverage that competes with the private cars, in addition to raising the awareness, changing the cultural and social outlook and concepts about the use of mass transit and achieve the desired integration between the system of public transport such as public buses, taxis, metro and marine transport, he added.

To ensure providing the best services to the public, Al Dossari confirmed that the Agency is preparing the Bus Master Plan whose recommendations would adopted in the development of the public bus services. The project includes preferred lines for buses to provide speedy and safe transfer, apply modern techniques such as (AVM & OCC), develop the public transport network, improve operating efficiency, address the requirements and technical specifications for buses, identify the appropriate infrastructure, study and develop the tariffs currently applied, develop the quality of public data, marketing, and take advantage of technological alternatives, in addition to build six new stations to accommodate buses in Jebel Ali, Al Qouz, Motor City, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Jebel Ali Airport and Al Qusais.

He expected that the new buses would be a turning point in the public bus sector and would attract greater numbers of passengers to use the public buses, which would contribute effectively to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the number of accidents and the air pollution ratio.