One electronic card for all transportation

Dubai: A unified electronic card for all transportation means will soon come into effect, a senior official announced yesterday.

The card can be used for all transportation means such as the metro, buses and abras. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) yesterday announced the strategic plan in a press conference and said the plan shows their determination to bring positive change in the services provided to customers and strategic partners. He said the total cost of the project until 2020 will be Dh45 billion.

Strategic plan

He said traffic congestion, the limited role played by mass transportation and the lack of traffic safety are the major issues the RTA is tackling as part of its strategic plan 2007-09.

RTA's strategic plan specifies ten main aims that have to be achieved and three obstacles that have to be overcome.

"In 2020, traffic congestion during peak hours is expected to reach 1.5 million trips or people, while in 2005, it was 350,000 trips or people," he said.

Al Tayer also said public transportation in Dubai only serves six per cent of the trips, while in advanced countries public transportation serves 80 per cent. Regarding traffic safety, there are 20 deaths for every 100,000 population in Dubai, while it is not more than six deaths for every 100,000 in advanced countries.

Some of RTA's major strategic aims focus on achieving smooth movement for users of land and sea transport, making land and water public transport the best option for travelling, protecting the environment, preserving nature, public safety and heritage.

There are a number of plans and projects to achieve each aim.

"The road network will be developed by adding 500 kilometres of new roads, increasing the lanes on the creek crossing from 19 to 47 lanes by 2008 and to 100 lanes by 2020," he said.

In addition, the RTA will add interchanges, improve 25 existing interchanges and build nine new ring roads.

"The RTA is also working on developing water transportation by operating 57 boats and constructing 50 stations. We will also develop the bus system by buying 700 new buses and establishing 500 new air-conditioned bus stops," Al Tayer said.

He said Dubai aims to have the world's most beautiful crossings in the world and work is on to choose the designs of the crossings.

Work is also going on Al Sofouh tramway and a new canal to Mina Al Salam.