Dubai: The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) chief has reset the target for clear roads and smooth traffic flow in Dubai.
"It will take three years from today to complete all the major infrastructure development projects, including roads, bridges, public transport and Dubai Metro," Mattar Al Tayer said, while speaking at the Ramadan Majlis organised by the Dubai Press Club on Monday.
Al Tayer had fixed the three-year target during the Ramadan majlis last year, but this year he reset it. "We have to review our plans because of rapid changes and massive development in Dubai," he said.
"We know people are suffering due to traffic congestion, road diversions and road construction projects, but they have to bear with us because we are doing all this for them and for the future of Dubai," he said.
Public transport
Al Tayer spoke at length about what the RTA is doing to ease traffic congestion in Dubai and to improve public transport system.
He said the RTA is spending some Dh16 billion on Dubai Metro and Dh8 billion on road projects this year and in total Dh40 billion on development of roads, traffic and transport infrastructure during the next three years.
He said the number of cars in Dubai is increasing at the rate of 17 to 20 per cent, which is the highest in the world, compared to two to three per cent increase in developed countries.
Apart from infrastructure development projects being carried out by the RTA, Al Tayer said the RTA is focusing on new transport policies and legislations to minimise the number of private cars and to give alternative to personal vehicles.
"We have given suggestions based on our studies to the federal government to take a number of steps to limit the use of personal cars," he said.
Plan: Restrictions and regulations
RTA seeks legislation from Federal Government on the following issues:
- Applying restrictions on car ownership and registration.
- Resetting the criteria of certain job holders for applying for driving licence. (All over UAE)
- Banning of import and registration of old vehicles.
Policies to be implemented in phases
- Switching some of the congested areas to exclusive pedestrian zones.
- Designating special lanes for cyclists and buses.
- Reviewing and modifying the tariff of public parking.
- Introducing Mobility Management Policy, including initiatives such as: Mass transport mode for employees;encouraging car pooling;adopting variable working hours (in Dubai).
Your comments
Pedestrian idea is very good becoz people will got easy access.but from the last one year i m trying for driving license but they r going to fail me continuously till 8th try.how much time and money i invest on it?on my last try i think i have to leave it and commit socide...i m really disappoint.RTA have to take care of our investment and feelings and emotions.i m going to fed up . so please don't make this rule tough for getting driving license we already suffering for it.and u have to push the companies they have to arrange transport for their employees and during job hours restriction on personal cars.so may be but please don't implement this rule for driving licese.whatever u r doing its good but u have to take care of people also.think about it please.
Fozia
sharjah,pakistan
Posted: September 26, 2007, 13:45
Taxis are not stopping even if they are empty. RTA cannot introduce restrictions on car ownership. RTA needs to improve public transport by warning taxi drivers to stop for passengers even if passengers travel short distances.
Jaydeep
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 13:44
Restricting car ownership is good, but on what basis, should have a broad vision. Issuing licence can be restricted, again the criteria shall be studied well. Import of old vehicles can be stopped and renewal of such regsitrations. Some lanes can be put exclusively for public transport, etc (but ensure the lanes are exclusive)
Mass transportation/car pooling and variable working hours are great ideas. Especially variable working hours. Schools should ban parents from transporting their children to and from school. It is not the public parking, but public transport that needs urgent attention.
Snehajith
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 13:33
Congratulations on making the decision to improve cycling facilities in Dubai. Dubai has the perfect climate for cycling to work during the 8 months a year which see the heaviest traffic on the roads.
Sean
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 13:32
All the future plans are great for the future, but right now can we start tackling the peak hour traffic on Emirates and Al Khail road by implementing the no truck during peak hours rule.
Gavin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 12:51
I believe that we need more police patrol cars on the road. And the police should have the authority to pull over people and issue fines on the spot. People are driving the way they like. In the United States police have the authority to pull over violators and issue them fines. However, in Dubai I have noticed several drivers committing moving violation in front of a patrol cars. Having a car is a necessity and not luxury. Barring people from obtaining a drivers licence can never work... However, barring bad drivers from getting behind the wheel can certainly work.
Ian
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 12:38
It appears that one of the major causes of traffic is the linear movement of traffic majority being from Sharjah to New Dubai. It is high time that the issues of Sharjah and Dubai are seen and resolved in an integrated manner.
R S
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 11:54
Its feasible to introduce more Public Transport Mini Buses in busy pocket roads of Dubai regularly connecting to Major roads / destinations with more stops, especially morning/noon/evening hours.
Biju
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 11:39
I am appreciating all the efforts and their vision taking by authority to reduce the traffic, at the same time I would like to bring their attention for the following points to ease the traffic. 1) Increase the police patrol 2) Traffic police presents in each main junction during the peak hours 3) place the dividers at least 500m for the freeways 4) place traffic signals especially roundabouts in Emirates road.
A.M
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 10:56
We all know RTA is spending billions of Dirhams to provide best infrastructure to people of Dubai. Please see major traffic jams are during morning driving from home to office that is from Sharjah-Dubai border towards Jebel Ali. Evening it is vice versa. So my suggestion is better town planning with affordable housing around Jebel Ali, Dubai-Al Ain road, Hatta Road etc.
Althaf
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 10:49
Banning old car registrations is a good idea to stop major accidents.
Rosy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 10:16
I can't understand why they are trying so hard to ease the traffic. The only solution is increase the fast and smooth public transport system, not only within Dubai but across the Emirates. If they don't apply this simple logic, the trafic jam is not going to reduce, in fact it will increase more because more projects are coming means more people that means one car per person.
M A
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 09:16
Applying restrictions on car ownership and registration is not appropriate as anyone who can afford to buy should be allowed to own cars. How about improving public transport?
Muntaha
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 08:38
Why the biased attitude of restricting certain job categories to applying for driving license. When a person applies for a driving licence he has to spend a lot of money to obtain it. In some way the licence is essential for him to spend so much money. Why be baised then?
Regarding reviewing tariff for public parking. Will there be an increase or decrease. You never know.
Evon
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 07:48
I very much respect all the Restrictions and regulations that the RTA has put in place but still I am very much sure 100 per cent that the only way go get rid of all the heavy traffic and to make smoother traffic is to put as much police patrols as possible on all the major roads and I will guarantee smoother traffic within one week please just try this for one week and see please as I am on Emirates Road and Shaikh Zayed Road every single day and consider myself a traffic jam expert and I realise that there is a big shortage of traffic patrols on the main roads we hardly see any police patrols and when ever thay are available we see no jams gauranteed.
Majed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 26, 2007, 03:18
