Source: www.rta.ae
The Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has won two awards of the biannual Gulf Traffic Conference & Exhibition 2009 in recognition of its competence in the fields of safety, transport and infrastructure in the Middle East.
Traffic Department at RTA Traffic & Roads Agency won Road Safety Award (Infrastructure Projects), while Rail Agency won Transport Project of the Year Award (Public Transport).
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA hailed the efforts of RTA engineers and employees who contributed to the award-winning projects and stressed that RTA projects & business are aligned on international specifications of high quality standards; which qualify them to clinch several international awards.
“Winning such awards brings in fresh responsibilities to our standing commitment of living up to the international standards in the projects and programs undertaken. Moreover, it leverages RTA staff to be creative and innovative in order to remain competitive at the top and have an edge to introduce creative concepts & methods in transport, traffic and roads sectors across the globe” commented Al Tayer.
“The Emirate of Dubai has undergone a quality transition in developing mass transit systems which have been recently culminated in the opening Phase I of Dubai Metro Project; the longest automated driverless metro project implemented in a single project worldwide. The overall length of the project is 75 km; 52 km on the Red Line and 23 km on the Green Line, both lines have 47 stations.
“Dubai Metro uses state-of-the-art rail technology featuring an air-conditioning system inside the stations and trains customized to function under the climatic conditions of metropolitan Dubai.
All trains operate according to an integrated electronic system enabling enhanced control and accurate setting of journey timings. The metro stations have been designed in an innovative architectural stylish method and fitted with the latest safety & security technologies, while providing parking facilities for private vehicles and public transport modes in each station.
“Having Traffic & Roads Agency winning Road Safety Award underscores the efforts made by Traffic Dep’t in carrying out of programs & plans that contributed to effectively improving traffic safety level of roads in the Emirate, according to indicators and statistics contained in the bidding file of the Award.
“Traffic Safety Section at Traffic Department compiles, audits, streamlines and saves traffic accidents data in the GIS in order to further study and identify their indicators in a way that guides us in drawing up plans and business of traffic safety in Dubai. Traffic safety strategy of Dubai Emirate 2015 includes 25 initiatives to improve the traffic safety in the Emirate. Traffic Safety Section has recently completed several projects & programs related to road safety such as Auditing Road Traffic Safety Manual, Traffic Diversions Manual, Roadsides Designing Manual, Safety & Pedestrian Security Plan, Identifying the Locations of Footbridges and Pedestrian Crossings, Identifying the Locations of Black Points System, Upgrading the Standards of Roads Infrastructure Safety, and Reviewing Traffic Rules and Benchmarking them to the Best International Practices of the Industry” added RTA Chairman.
Al Tayer concluded by reiterating RTA attention to reduce traffic accident rates through focusing on safety & awareness aspects in well-rehearsed and guided approach to realize RTA vision of providing Safe & Smooth Transport for All.
For her part Sarah Woodbridge, Group Director – Exhibitions at The Institute for International Research (IIR), the organizer of Gulf Traffic said: “We feel it is necessary to reward the pioneers and innovators at public and private entities operating in the fields of transport and infrastructure across the Middle East”.
She added: Gulf Traffic Conference & Exhibition is held biannually featuring participation from public & private organizations at various countries.
It is the first time the organizers decide on offering awards for the best practices and applications in the fields of traffic, roads & safety. The awards comprise three segments: transport innovation, road safety and public transport project of the year. The Awards comprise 8 categories and the Dubai RTA won both the second and third categories. The Director of Traffic Department at Traffic & Roads Agency Hussain Al Banna collected Roads Safety Award, while the Director of Rail Planning & Designing Dep’t at Rail Agency Abdul Rida Abu Al Hassan received the Project of the Year Award – Public Transport in a ceremony held at Dubai Aviation Club attended by all participants.
Judges Panel comprises Dr. Reem Ahmed Akbari at Centre for Transport and Road Studies, University of Bahrain, Tony Pearce, Honorary Director General, International Road Federation, and Dr. Paul Carlson, Division Head of Operations & Design, Texas Transportation Institute.
