DUBAI 31 May 2017: Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) plans to procure a new bus fleet, and construct bus stations and a bus depot as well as the Traffic Control Center at Al Barsha.
This was revealed during a meeting to discuss the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy and future projects the RTA is set to undertake in support of Dubai hosting Expo 2020. The meeting was attended by Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Director-General and Chairman and Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police.
The meeting reviewed the Traffic Safety Strategy charted by the RTA – which is aligned with the world’s best practices in countries like Sweden, UK, Australia and Canada. The strategy is built on four pillars, namely: driver, road, vehicle, and systems and management.
The meeting also reviewed the structure of teams and committees formed by the RTA to cater to Expo 2020 projects; which are affiliated to the Higher Committee of Roads & Transport for Hosting Expo. Discussions covered projects undertaken by the RTA to support Expo along with the deadlines set for such projects, and the coordination process with Expo Office.
RTA plans feature a portfolio of projects such as Route 2020 for the extension of the Red Line of Dubai Metro to the site of Expo 2020, the Enterprise Command & Control Center, upgrading Al Yalyes Street and Airport Street, and roads network around the site of Expo.
Projects also include the integrating transport systems in Expo surroundings, procuring a new bus fleet, and constructing bus stations a bus depot as well as the Traffic Control Center at Al Barsha.
The meeting also discussed adding a representative from the Dubai Police to the Higher Committee of Roads & Transport, and coordinating a visit by a team of Dubai Police to RTA’s Enterprise Command & Control Center to assess the office space required by the Dubai Police. Discussions also covered providing training to Police personnel in the Center and providing security protection to the Enterprise Command & Control Center and other control centres.
Al Tayer welcomed Al Marri and stressed the importance of holding coordinative meetings between the two parties to enhance cooperation and develop a common approach to a variety of issues.
Al Marri praised the existing coordination between the two entities noting that the RTA and Dubai Police are amongst the biggest Government Departments in Dubai.
From the Dubai Police General HQ attended Major General Dr. Abdul Quddus Al Obaidly, Director of the General Administration of TQM. Attendees from the RTA included Metha bin Udai, CEO of Traffic & Roads Agency, Hussain Al Banna, Executive Director of Traffic at Traffic & Roads Agency, and a host of Directors.
By Sheena Amos