DUBAI: The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has claimed that use of public transport [mass transit] by Dubai residents has reached 24 per cent – if use of taxis are included.
The goal is to hit 20 cent by 2020.
“Since inception, the RTA has been striving to improve the mass transit system and render it the preferred choice for mobility in the emirate in order to raise the mass transit share in the emirate (metro, tram, buses, marine transport) to 20% by 2020, which has already increased from 6% in 2006 to 16% in 2016, and would reach to 24% if taxi service is included,” said Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Director-General and Chairman.
“The RTA carried out a number of mega, vital projects in mass transit highlighted by Dubai Metro Project, the world’s longest driverless metro network spanning 75 kilometers, Dubai Tram Project with extending 11 kilometers, and a huge fleet of public buses comprising more than 1560 buses, in addition to an integrated system of marine transit modes, and taxi cabs. Dubai’s mass transit modes lift nearly 1.5 million passengers a day.”
Al Tayer added that the RTA has introduced state-of-the-art technologies to operate mass transit system, including NOL card which is used to pay transport fares in various transits modes including Dubai Metro, buses and water buses, as well as expanding the smart services project.
He was speaking during a meeting with a Qatari delegation headed by Dr. Saad bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi, President of Qatar Public Works Authority. The meeting discussed means of boosting cooperation and reviewing the experience of the RTA.
– By Rajive Singh