Al Tayer inspects Al Khawaneej Bus Depot

Al Tayer inspects Al Khawaneej Bus Depot

Roads & Transport Authority:
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), has recently inspected Al Khawaneej Bus Depot which was inaugurated by the RTA in early August to serve 16 public transport routes shuttling over several districts across Dubai Emirate; including 5 Dubai Metro stations feeder service. During his tour, Al Tayer was accompanied by the CEO of Public Transport Agency Essa Abdul-Rahman Al Dosari in addition to other directors & managers of the Agency.

Al Tayer stated: “Al Khawaneej Bus Depot is considered a milestone in broadening and upgrading public transport network in Dubai Emirate; as it serves a plenty of Dubai Metro stations feeder routes, and passes across a number of districts throughout the Emirate”.

“The inauguration of this depot aims to widen and improve public bus transport, meet the requirements of passengers using this type of public transport, encourage more passengers to use the Dubai Metro, and enhance the integration of public transport network in Dubai Emirate,” said Al Tayer.

He continued: “The inauguration of this station culminates elaborate studies and site surveys undertaken by the RTA to assess the requirements of public bus riders, link the metro stations with public transport routes in Dubai, and address the transportation needs of all districts in the vicinity of the metro stations.
“The opening of Al Khawaneej Bus Depot also aims to distribute the bus routes according to districts close to the bus depots to ensure better utilization of the existing resources, enhance the efficiency and reduce the operational cost so long as the Depot is in close proximity to the starting points of the bus routes. It is anticipated that the operation of this Depot will cut the operational costs by as much as 1.5 million dirham per annum,” added Al Tayer.

“It took the RTA 15 months to complete this vital project at a cost of 121 million dirham. The facility has a capacity to house 284 buses and comprises a waiting yard, an air-conditioned maintenance workshop providing all types of preventive & regular bus maintenance (including maintenance of engines, electrical systems, and air-conditioning systems), a fully fledged painting workshop, a refueling station and a washing bay,” said Al Tayer in a final remark.

Worth-mentioning that the five metro stations feeder routes principally serve Al Rashidiya Station as Route (F3) starts off Al Rashidiya Metro Station (4), and passes across several districts including Mirdiff Interchange, Mirdiff Private School (1), and Mirdiff Uptown Center (1). Route (F4) starts off Al Rashidiya Metro Station (5) and passes across Imam Abu Haneefa Mosque at Mirdiff, Mirdiff City Center, Al Rashidiya and other districts. Route (F5) starts off Al Rashidiya Metro Station (5) and passes across Muhaisnah (1), Al Mizher, and Al Arabi Center, whereas Route (F6) starts off Lulu Village, Muhaisnah (4), Head Office of Public Transport Agency, and Al Kawakeb School. Route (F10) starts off Al Rashidiya Metro Station (2) and passes through several districts including the entry leading to Al Warqaa (1), the Grand Mosque at Al Warqaa, and Al Jahiz Boys School at Rashidiya among others.

Captions:
- Mattar Al Tayer inspecting the station

RTA completes improvement works of Mirdiff Bridge

RTA completes improvement works of Mirdiff Bridge

The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has recently completed all works of Mirdiff Interchange with the opening of all remaining works in the project which included the opening of a right traffic lane inbound from Abu Dhabi / Jebel Ali outbound to Mirdiff, a tunnel and upper roads, and a right traffic lane in the direction of Mirdiff City Center.

Engineer Maitha bin Udai, CEO of RTA Traffic & Roads Agency, highlighted some aspects of the project and said: “The project comprised converting the previous bridge, which was consisting of two lanes in the direction of Al Muhaisna and one lane in the direction of Mirdiff, into a high-capacity flyover comprising six lane in the direction of Mirdiff: three in the direction of Al Muhaisna and three in the direction of Al Rashidiya. It also comprised five lanes for traffic inbound from Al Muhaisna: three in the direction of Murdiff and two in the direction of Al Khawaneej, in addition to other lanes enabling turns from and to Al Khawaneej Road, and free right lanes in all directions of the signalized intersection. The project also included four traffic light signals; three at Algiers Road and one at Madinat Badr.

“The project contributes to easing traffic flow for road users at Mirdiff and Al Muhaisna; which witnessed remarkable urbanization & population growth over the last few years; a matter which warranted upgrading roads coming from and leading to those areas.

“The project entailed widening Al Khawaneej Road in a sector extending 3.4 km from three to four lanes, and widening Algiers Road in a sector extending 1.6 km from two to three lanes so as to eliminate the gridlock at the intersection. A connecting ramp has been constructed to enable free turn leftward to serve the traffic inbound from Al Khwaneej Road and outbound to Al Muhaisna, in addition to completing all works related to utility lines related to irrigation, sewage, lighting and traffic signage.

“The project comes under RTA plans to mitigate traffic congestion through undertaking a number of vital projects, improving roads, and providing services at residential areas in keeping with undergoing road widening & development projects witnessed by Dubai aimed at achieving RTA vision of providing Safe & Smooth Transport for All. It is also part of RTA strategy to meet the current and future requirements of roads & transportation, and develop integrated solutions of land & marine transportation networks that are safe to use, in line with the comprehensive economic development plans and meet the demographic expansion of the Emirate.

Captions:
- Engineer Maitha bin Udai
- A layout of Murdiff Bridges

Al Tayer: Public transport users top 56m in the first half of 2010, 119m forecast by the year-end

Al Tayer: Public transport users top 56m in the first half of 2010, 119m forecast by the year-end

Al Khawaneej & Jebel Ali Bus Depots to open this August

Bus punctuality reaches 62%, accidents rate equals 1:100k km

Journey numbers drop by 29%, kilometers done drop by 25.7%

Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) revealed that public buses have commuted about 56 million passengers in the first half of this year and it is forecasted that the total number of public bus commuters would hit 119 million passengers by the end of the current year. Al Tayer also revealed an increase in bus punctuality as high as 62% coupled with a drop of accidents rate to 1 accident per 100 thousand kilometers done. Besides that he announced that the bus depots at Al Khawaneej & Jebel Ali would be opened in August this year.

Al Tayer elaborated: “Results of public bus service operational indicators revealed that in the first half of this year the bus ridership increased to about 56 million passengers lifted in 1.8 million journeys, of whom 44 million passengers used domestic bus routes “urban transport’’ operating over 80 domestic routes covering various districts and towns of the Dubai Emirate. About 7 million passengers used inter-city buses; which operate over 13 routes covering main cities across the UAE Emirates. The number of commuters using metro stations feeder buses amounted to 4.8 million passengers approximately. The monthly number of passengers using urban & feeder bus service during last March, April and May broke the barrier of 8 million passengers; as the number of passengers clocked 8,723,000 in March. In April the number of bus commuters clocked 8,515,000 passengers, whereas the number reached 8,158,000 passengers in May, 7,973,000 passengers in June, 7,784,000 passengers in February and 7,633,000 passengers in January. Metro stations feeder bus service showed increased ridership with passengers count jumping from 622,000 in January to about one million in May.

“RTA strategy has succeeded in improving the performance of public bus service, increasing bus operational efficiency, and reducing fuel consumption & maintenance costs. Public transport routes have been restructured in 2010 with a view to reducing the number of kilometers done, realizing operational efficiency, redistributing the frequency of the service in urban routes and metro feeder service, and redistributing routes & buses on depots to reduce the wasted mileage. This strategy has contributed to reducing the number of kilometers done from 8,889,000 km last January to 6,600,000 km last June recording a drop of 25.7%. Equally the total number of journeys dropped from 347,172 journeys last January to 246,393 journeys last June, recording a drop of 29%,” commented RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director.

Al Tayer further added: “The operational results in the first half of this year revealed that bus punctuality reached 62% and the safety & security indicator showed a drop in the accident rate to 1 accident per 100,000 km; which is attributed to the increased drivers training exposure, and higher traffic safety awareness amid drivers”.

“In August this year, RTA will open the two bus depots at Al Khawaneej and Jebel Ali. Al Khawaneej Depot has a parking yard for 284 buses; comprising 146 standard buses and 138 articulated buses in addition to an electromechanical workshop capable of accommodating 20 buses at a time, a supply line for 13 buses at a time, a cleaning and washing bay for 12 buses at a time and an administrative building for about 40 employees,” he continued.

“Jebel Ali Bus Depot has a capacity to accommodate about 300 buses of the three bus types; standard, articulated and double-deckers. It also has a 24 bay for accommodating 36 buses at a time for cleaning, washing and refueling services. The depot has office buildings to house 50 employees and residential units for about 1200 bus drivers employed at Public Transport Agency,” stated Al Tayer.

RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director further added that these projects were part of the comprehensive plan developed by the RTA to enable bus mass transit systems attract additional numbers of passengers with the aim of reducing traffic bottlenecks. “Such a plan warrants deploying sophisticated buses with high quality, affordable cost and wide geographical coverage so as to contribute to the provision of integrated multi modal transit systems spanning public buses, Dubai Metro and marine transport. The plan also envisages expanding the construction of air-conditioned bus shelters & bus depots, and developing electronic systems & programs such as the Journey Planner (Wojhati), Auto Vehicles Management, Unified Card, and Real Time Passenger Information System in addition to Sharekni and Awselni schemes,” said Al Tayer in a final remark.

Captions:
- Mattar Al Tayer
- Considerable growth in public bus ridership
- Air-conditioned bus shelters
- Wide ranging electronic to systems to ease passenger mobility

Obtaining NOCs is a must for working within Railway Right-of-Way: RTA

Obtaining NOCs is a must for working within Railway Right-of-Way: RTA


Al Tayer: 5 meters off rail facilities set as Red Zone, 30 meters as Yellow Zone

Half a million dirham fine fixed against unauthorized works in the railway exclusive zone


Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), called on consultants & contractors to comply with the regulations set for obtaining work permits within Railway Right-of-Way, as well as the technical stipulations set for working within the Red Zone stretching 5 meters off the edge of rail facilities, and the Yellow Zone stretching 30 meters off the edge of rail facilities. He highlighted the importance of protecting and ensuring the safety of rail tracks and facilities, adding that RTA would not hesitate to take punitive measures against offenders.

“The Executive Regulation of Order No (5)/2009 governing railway works in Dubai Emirate stipulated, in Article (59), the issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from RTA Railway Right-of-Way Office whenever it is needed to carry out any activity or work that may expose the safety of rail facilities or rail operations to danger. Restricted activities that require obtaining NOCs include storage of cargo, movement or operation of automatic lifting machines and other mechanical lifting equipment, and excavation works as well as drilling of wells, seabed, canals, boreholes, and lagoons. It also includes boring of tunnels & subterranean wells, digging of trenches and bulldozing the soil surface, in addition to any acts of destruction and demolition, the use of explosives, fireworks & setting fires, scaffolding & setting other temporal structures, replacing power transmission lines, and other activities which Rail Agency opts to subject to monitoring within the protective zone of railway infrastructure. Such works have to be carried out in a controlled manner to reduce the level of risks directly impacting the safety of trains,” said Al Tayer.

He further added: “The Executive Regulation obliged all bodies intending to carry out works in the area adjacent to rail facilities to communicate with RTA Railway Right-of-Way Office to obtain the required NOCs before starting any work on the ground. All information required by the Office for the issuance of the NOC have to be submitted. There are five types of NOCs, namely: NOC to obtaining information, NOC to the initial design, NOC to the final design, NOC to the experimental excavation work, and NOC to construction works; each NOC will be valid for a period of 180 days. The Executive Regulation of Order No (5)/2009 governing railway works in Dubai Emirate imposes deterrent fines against offenders as Article (18) provided that the violation of carrying out works with the railway protective zone, whether planned or actually existing, before obtaining a prior NOC from the RTA carries a fine of half a million dirham, besides halting all works until the offence is removed. The Regulation entitles the RTA to stop anybody from practicing or attempting to practice any activity prohibited activity in any rail protective zone without obtaining a prior NOC”.

RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director stated that RTA had confirmed the booking of paths of the metro tunnels beneath Dubai Creek through the applicable systems at Planning & Survey Department, the Dubai Municipality, and made necessary coordination with Dubai Customs to control company activities within the Dubai Creek, particularly near the metro tunnels.
“RTA will shortly hold a workshop to enlighten contractors & consultants about the Railway Right-of-Way and the Executive Regulation, and explain the stipulations and guidelines set for working within the Railway Right-of-Way. RTA will also intensify the inspection campaigns round-the-clock on all metro tracks on both the Red and Green Lines,” added Al Tayer in a final remark.

Photo captions:
• Mattar Al Tayer
• Layout of the paths of the Dubai Metro Red and Green Lines

RTA opens bridges leading to entry & exit points of Rashidiya Metro station on 15 July

RTA opens bridges leading to entry & exit points of Rashidiya Metro station on 15 July


Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:

H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), announced that all bridges leading to the entry and exit points of the Park-and-Ride facilities of Rashidiya Metro Station will be opened on 15 July 2010, as the Contractor is currently making the final touches in preparation for the opening of the bridges.

“The final stage of the project includes opening of 10 bridges with a total length of 1500 meters and roads stretching 2500 meters. These bridges ensure free traffic movements along Emirates Road for traffic inbound from Abu Dhabi towards the Parking of the Metro Station. The project also includes improvements at the juncture of Emirates Road and Al Khawaneej Road to streamline traffic flow inbound from Airport Road towards Al Qusais and Sharjah, as well as traffic inbound from Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali towards Al Khawaneej Road,” said Al Tayer.

He added: “RTA had already opened Phase I of the project whose cost is estimated as 699 million dirham on 09/09/2009 to coincide with the launch of the Dubai Metro. Phase I comprised the construction of free turns connecting with Emirates Road and Airport Road, in addition to two bridges on Al Khawaneej Road to ease the traffic flow from and to the Parking of Rashidiya Metro Station, which has a capacity to house 2750 vehicles. Phase I also provided entries to the Metro Station on two levels for the traffic incoming from Sharjah with a total length of 1000 meters. Such bridges cross Al Khawaneej Road in the direction leading to the Airport Road.
“Constructing the bridges leading to the entry & exit points of Rashidiya Metro Station reflects RTA attention to upgrade the efficiency of roads network, ensure better flow of vehicular movement, and link the Park-and-Ride facilities of the metro stations with roads network in Dubai Emirate, thus encourage more people to use public transport modes.

“Rashidiya Metro Station is one of the key metro stations as it is the starting point of the Red Line of Dubai Metro. It spans an area of 130 X 30 meters and has a capacity to handle 11,000 passengers per hour per direction. The Station has two entry points fitted with elevators and lifts to ease the smooth entry and exit of passengers from and to the station. The Station has a huge park-and-ride facility capable of accommodating 2750 vehicles with the aim of enticing the public to use the metro in their travel within Dubai. The ground level is dedicated to public buses which provide feeder service to the metro stations. Therefore it has been custom-built to accommodate articulated & double-deck buses, and ensure smooth traffic of a large number of buses at a time. The parking lot is linked with footbridges connecting with the opposite side of the road leading to the metro station such that the time spent from the farthest point in a which a vehicle may be parked to the entrance of the station will not exceed 3 minutes. All required safety precautions are well in place inside the parking facility,” elaborated Al Tayer.

RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director concluded his remarks saying: “RTA will continue with the construction works on several main and arterial road projects in Dubai to ensure integrated transit systems in the context of its strategy to provide advanced services to all residents, and provide comprehensive solutions ensuring seamless traffic flow in keeping with its vision of providing Safe & Smooth Transport for All across the Emirate.

Captions:
• Mattar Al Tayer
• Layout of bridges leading to Rashidiya Metro Station Project