Source: www.rta.ae
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has recently received a German delegation headed by H.E. Hans-Joachim Otto, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, Germany.
The meeting, which was attended by several CEOs of the RTA as well as representatives of a host of specialized German businesses, explored the means of boosting the existing cooperation & exchanging expertise between the RTA and its counterpart in the Federal Republic of Germany as well as the German companies operating in transport sector. The two parties also reviewed the forthcoming road and infrastructure projects in Dubai.
In the onset of the meeting, Al Tayer praised the record of the German companies undertaking several mass transit systems in Dubai Metro and public transport. The meeting also reviewed RTA experiment in the transition from the use of private vehicles to the public transport modes.
“From the start, RTA has been keen on developing mass transit systems to make them the first choice of commuters in the Emirate with the aim of increasing public transport ridership from 6% in 2006 to 34% by 2020. Under this drive, RTA has constructed the Dubai Metro project, the longest driverless metro line undertaken as a single project worldwide, and the first phase of the project was opened on 09/09/2009. The fleet of public buses was beefed up from 619 buses at the time of establishing the RTA to more than 1593 buses in 2010, besides the construction and operation of about 800 air-conditioned bus shelters. RTA has also completed the construction of Bus Depots at Al Awir, Al Rawiyya and Al Khawaneej, while construction works are up and running in the Jebel Ali Bus Depot. In the marine transport, RTA operated the Water Bus and the Water Taxi and completed the renovation of 154 abras,” said Al Tayer.
Al Tayer further added: “As a result of these efforts, mass transit systems in Dubai have become a dynamic element in the daily travel of residents and visitors. The number of commuters who use mass transit is hovering around one million passengers. As such the share of public transport means in the mobility of population is currently around 11 percent; which compares favourably with the 6% prevailing during 2006.”
RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director touched briefly on RTA road projects saying: “The number of lanes crossing over Dubai Creek has also soared sharply from 19 to 48 lanes; reflecting 153 per cent rise. Equally, the length of roads network increased from 8715 km in 2006 to 11217 km in 2010 in addition to the construction of 25 key interchanges.”
The German delegation members hailed RTA speed delivery of infrastructure projects comprising roads, metro, upgrading public bus fleet and the integration of mass transit systems. They specifically praised the Dubai Metro project featuring a brilliant design, high quality finishes and excellent passenger services.
H.E. Hans-Joachim Otto stated that he would be looking forward for boosting the cooperative and partnership relations between the two parties towards exchanging expertise and benefiting from their individual practices in the fields of public transport and rail systems. He also stated that the German private sector would be interested in taking part in the projects and programs intended to be put forward by the RTA in future.
