RTA inks commuting agreement with University of Wollongong in Dubai

The Agreement provides for the Agency to act as a consultant to the University in working out a plan to deploy buses for commuting its employees and students to and from their homes, on the same lines of Awselni service launched by the RTA for commuting its employees.

The Agreement was signed on behalf of the RTA by Mohammed Abu Baker Al Hashemi, Director of Planning and Business Development Dep't at the Agency, deputing for the CEO of Public Transport Agency Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari, and on behalf of the University of Wollongong by Prof. Rob Whelan, President of the University.

Signing of the Agreement, which took place at the Head Office of RTA Public Transport Agency in Muhaisnah, was attended by several directors and officials of the Agency, in addition to Mr. Raymi van der Spek Vice-President of the University (Administration), and Dr. Parkash Vel, a lecturer at the University.

Al Hashemi said:

"By signing this Agreement, Public Transport Agency will work with the Aussie University to realize several strategic objectives and goals through carrying out studies and field surveys to identify the mobility difficulties encountered by its employees and students on daily basis, and the two parties will make joint efforts to figure out practical and effective solutions to overcome these obstacles."

"Public Transport Agency will work with the University of Wollongong to develop joint mobility management programs with the aim of providing mass transit services for the employees and students of the University and encourage them to use alternative transport modes other than private vehicles. The two parties will also work to minimize single-occupancy cars used by students and employees in commuting from and to the university by encouraging them to adopt car-pooling in their daily travels, and increase car occupancy rates through highlighting the benefits of car-pooling system," continued Al Hashemi.

In the same context he said that deployment of exclusive buses for transporting employees from and to their places of work would greatly cut the number of private vehicles on Dubai roads. "We will study how to ease the procedures of registering employee commuter buses of our strategic partners within RTA system. We will also offer tips for optimizing the parking space near work places to meet the requirements of companies and organizations, and ease the traffic congestion in the locality as a result of the daily movement of employee and visitor cars."

Al Hashemi concluded, "Public Transport Agency is launching joint awareness campaigns to educate employees of various companies and organizations on the negative impact of using private transport on the traffic movement in general and the environment and community in particular."

For his part Rob Whelan hailed the Agreement describing it as another initiative of vital importance from the RTA. He said that the Agreement would enhance the joint cooperation and strategic partnership between Public Transport Agency and the Australian University of Wollongong. Besides that it lays the foundation for new bilateral links to broaden and develop mass transportation in the emirate of Dubai.

He added, "We are always happy to support RTA initiatives to streamline traffic flow and ease traffic congestion in the emirate of Dubai. We, at the management of University of Wollongong, will seek to raise the awareness of the importance of these initiatives, and naturally hope they will be of benefit to residents, visitors, tourists and businessmen in the emirate."

"Through this MoU, we will share views and proposals with the RTA and seek to promote the public awareness of RTA initiatives such as Mobility Management programs, which were unveiled by Public Transport Agency after a comprehensive field studies and site surveys," concluded Rob Whelan.