The Roads and Transport Authority has authorized the implementation of new dedicated bus and taxi routes spanning a distance of 13.1 km. These routes will be spread across six important streets: Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, December 2nd, Satwa, Al-Nahda, Omar bin Al-Khattab, and Naif Streets. The implementation of these routes is scheduled to commence in 2025. By 2027, the cumulative distance of private bus lines will reach 20.1 km.
The bus and taxi routes project, as highlighted by Mattar Al Tayer, the Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, is a significant global initiative and effective transportation policy. It serves as a catalyst for encouraging residents to opt for public transportation over private vehicles, while also striving to decrease travel duration and enhance adherence to regulations. In order to achieve the strategic objective of integrating Dubai and enhancing the quality of life for public transportation users, several measures can be implemented. These include the establishment of bus timetables, promotion of public transportation usage among community members, enhancement of taxi arrival rates, reduction of direct and indirect operational costs, facilitation of integration between various transportation modes, and mitigation of environmentally harmful emissions.
According to Al Tayer, the implementation of private bus routes has been found to have a significant impact on reducing travel time for bus lines on designated routes during peak hours. This reduction in travel time ranges from 24% to 59%. Additionally, the anticipated arrival time of buses on these designated routes is expected to improve by 28% to 56%. There is an anticipated increase of 59% in bus travel on Naif Street, 54% on Satwa Street, 50% on Omar Bin Al Khattab Street, and 38% on Al Nahda Street. Additionally, there is an estimated improvement of 56% in bus arrival time on 2nd December Street, and 52% on Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Street. The expansion of routes on Al Satwa Street and Omar Bin Al Khattab Street has resulted in a 48% and 42% increase in public transportation bus usage, respectively. This increase in usage can be up to 30% in certain streets. Additionally, the number of buses serving these lines has been reduced due to the time savings achieved during flights.
The speaker elucidated that the adoption of the plan to execute the routes for public transportation buses and taxis represents the culmination of the significant accomplishments attained in the preceding three phases of route implementation. These previous phases have played a pivotal role in diminishing the travel duration for certain bus lines to approximately 5 minutes per bus, resulting in an estimated enhancement of 24% in trip time. Additionally, it had a role in enhancing the level of satisfaction among passengers, bus drivers, and taxi drivers.
It is worth mentioning that the governing body had previously undertaken the implementation of bus routes spanning a distance of 7 kilometers. This included the establishment of a distinct route for both buses and taxis on Khalid bin Al-Waleed Street, spanning a length of 4.3 kilometers. The route extended from the intersection of Khalid bin Al-Waleed Street with Al-Mina Street to its intersection with Zabeel Street, in both directions. Furthermore, the areas under consideration are Naif Street, spanning a distance of one kilometer, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Street (extending from Satwa Roundabout to Sheikh Rashid Street, covering a distance of 1,200 meters), and Al-Ghubaiba Street (spanning from the intersection of Al Mina Street to Street No. 12, covering a distance of 500 meters).
