Dubai's Public Transport Authority (RTA) plans to increase the number of lanes dedicated to public bus traffic only as part of its ongoing development plans to improve mass transit services by reducing bus travel times during busy hours.
Ahmed Hashem Behroozian, Executive Director of the Foundation, told Emirates Today that the Foundation is currently working on identifying suitable locations to provide these routes, based on a number of criteria, the most important of which is the turnout of certain bus lines compared to others, as well as the size of congestion in some areas that pass There are public bus lines.
He pointed out that the number of existing lines in Dubai, which is allocated for the passage of public buses only, is not enough, as the proportion of the total number of bus routes does not exceed 1%, while the proportion of these routes in some cities to 4%.
He said that the decision to increase these routes is of great importance, given the achievement of a number of objectives, the most important of which is to reduce traffic congestion and the resulting environmental pollution, by reducing the number of vehicles for the benefit of public buses, which will increase the demand when they are on open streets and free of traffic crises.
Behroozian stressed that the biggest challenge facing public bus service providers in all countries of the world is to provide the service on time without any delay, and access to the stations according to the approved schedule.
He explained that the idea of establishing bus routes does not require the establishment of new routes in all locations, but can identify a specific part of existing routes, and allocate that part for the passage of buses only, adding that this system is different from the regulations used in some countries, which allocate completely independent routes About traffic, public bus network lines, and routes of other vehicles.
Behrouzian pointed out that bus routes can be used to achieve other goals, as well as the experiences of other countries, such as the use of vehicles involving more than one passenger, to encourage people to adopt environmentally friendly behaviors.
He stressed that the increase in routes dedicated to buses increases the share of mass transport in reducing traffic congestion, and improve the proportion of punctuality of public bus trips, and the rate of arrival of taxis, which in turn contributes to reduce the direct and indirect operational costs of transport, and reduce the proportion of carbon emissions Polluting the environment.
The Authority has allocated a number of routes for buses and taxis in Al Mankhool Street from Satwa Roundabout to Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Khaleej Street from the intersection with Khalid Bin Al Waleed Street to Al Musalla Street opposite Hyatt Regency Hotel and Khalid Bin Al Waleed Street from the intersection. With Al Mina Road to Street # 16, Al Ghubaiba Street from the intersection with Al Mina Street to Street No. 12. The TRA also allocated parts of Naif Road for a kilometer, starting from Al Mussalla Street to Al Khaleej Road, and parts of Al Ittihad Road for a kilometer in the direction from Sharjah to Dubai. , And from the entrance of the Emirate of Dubai to the intersection of Al Nahda.