Transport Centre of Excellence to be set up

Dubai: A centre that will help promote excellence in the field of public transportation in the region — by offering specialist training and conducting research — will be set up in Dubai, officials announced on Monday.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) signed an agreement yesterday with the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) to establish the Transport Centre of Excellence in the Mena region.

The centre, expected to be functional by 2013, will be located on the RTA premises. It will offer the best international public transport practices, train transport specialists and conduct research and studies that will be helpful in developing not only the transport sector in Dubai and the UAE, but across the region, Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, said.