By Staff www.khaleejtimes.com
Of the five new bus routes announced by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), relief is palpable in the average commuter at the bus station most for route No. 84 — from Al Khail Gate to Mina Siyahi.
Lourdes Rodriguez, 49, who lives near Al Khail Gate and works at Dubai Logistics City has a bus from the office to drop and pick her up. She won’t be taking buses on route 84 for work, but she says, “My sister called and told me about the new bus route, and she was joking with me that when we go to the Hilton in Marina, she won’t be dropping and picking me anymore, as I can take the bus.”
The Public Transport Agency of the RTA has, besides the launch of these five new bus routes, also revised four others.
Planning and Business Development acting director of RTA Eisa Al Hashimi said: “The first of these five new routes is Route (84), which starts off Al Khail Gate, Al Quoz and terminates at Mina Siyahi via Mall of the Emirates; followed by Route(366) which moves off Rashidiya Metro Station and heads to the Silicon Oasis; Route (F12) — a metro station feeder service starting from Jafiliya Metro Station and running through Al Wasl park via Satwa; Route (21) which is another metro station feeder service starting from Zuleikha Hospital heading towards Al Ahli Club; and Route (E307A) which starts off Abu Hail Metro Station with a final destination in Sharjah emirate.”
The four routes revised by the RTA are: Route (22) which has been rerouted to pass by Al Nahda Park, Route (13A) to pass by Doha Road, Route (365) from Rashidiya Metro Station, and the Metro Station Feeder service (F3) passing nearby Al Ittihad Mall via Al Khawaneej Road.
A bus driver on route 85, Mohammad Najeeb, said his flatmate Salim is the one who got to try out the new route, route No. 84, when he was sent a map on the night of March 31 showing him which roads to take. It takes Salim 2.5 hours to complete the circuit from Al Khail to Al Quoz, going via Mall of the Emirates and finally ending at Mall of the Emirates.
Hashimi said the RTA listened to suggestions and feedback from all members of the community in relation to extending the public transport network, while it frequently carried out polls to probe views aof commuters.
Commuters could use the RTA website to give their feedback too. “The Public Transport Agency is always keen on broadening the reach of (the) bus network within the Emirate of Dubai as well as the Inter-City bus network, and frequently conducts studies and field surveys to identify the mobility needs of mass transit users in Dubai in order to meet them at the earliest time possible.”
Leaflets and flyers have been distributed at bus stops, bus stations and metro stations to introduce the new routes and revised services.
