Dubai’s RTA to build bus and taxi lanes stretching 37 km over five years

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has endorsed a plan to construct dedicated bus and taxi lanes extending 37 km during the period 2023-2027.

#RTA has endorsed a plan to construct dedicated bus and taxi lanes extending 37 km during the period 2023-2027.https://t.co/6pqh6VIL3f pic.twitter.com/R4V7Cf08ck

— RTA (@rta_dubai) May 8, 2022

These lanes cover eight main streets mainly Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Street, 2nd December Street, Amman Street, Al Satwa Road, Al Nahda Street, Omar bin Al-Khattab Street and Naif Street, bringing the total length of dedicated bus and taxi lanes to 48.6 km.

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general, chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said, “The dedicated bus and taxi lanes is a successful global practice that encourages people to ride public transport rather than private vehicles. As seen in several metropolitan cities in America and Europe dedicated bus and taxi lanes reduce journey time, increase the compliance with the on-time bus departures, encourage public to use mass transport means, improve the taxi arrival time, and reduce the direct and indirect operational costs as well as pollutions.”

“Widening the scope of dedicated bus lanes increases the average bus speed and reduces the travel time during peak hours by more than 40 per cent. The introduction of this project is expected to reduce bus journey time by 44 per cent on the 2nd December Street, 39 per cent on the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Street and Amman Street, 28 per cent on the Omar bin Al-Khattab Street, 27 per cent on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, 25 per cent on Al-Nahda Street, and 18 per cent on Al Satwa Road. The project is expected to contribute to a 30 per cent increase in public transport riders by 2030 on some streets, and reduce the requirements of additional buses due to the journey time saved.”

RTA also endorsed a five-year sustainability plan that extends from 2021-2025, which encompasses 20 projects.

Read: Dubai’s RTA endorses five-year sustainability plan

Last month, RTA opened online applications on its website to obtain permits for the use of e-scooters in the designated cycling tracks and ‘safe streets’ within the emirate.

Read more: RTA to open online applications for e-scooter permits in Dubai