Engineer Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dossari, CEO of Public Transport Agency in Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), announced the arrival of another batch of new buses consisting of standard, articulated and double-decker buses procured by the RTA. They are part of a contract covering the purchase of 626 buses, including 150 standards buses, 300 articulated buses and 170 double-decker buses.
“This step is part of an integrated strategic plan developed by the RTA to upgrade mass transit means in the emirate and attract additional numbers of passengers with a view to reduce traffic bottlenecks.
Through providing highly developed, top quality and cost-effective buses with wide geographical coverage, RTA is aiming to step up the percentage of trips made by mass transport means to 30% by 2020, as well as achieve integration between public transport means including public transport buses, Dubai Metro and Marine transport'' said Al Dossari.
He explained that the double-decker bus can accommodate up to 160 passengers, whereas the articulated bus will accommodate 100 passengers and the standard bus has a capacity of 57 passengers.
These buses are fitted with the latest technologies and highest security & safety standards. Their designs have been customized to serve the requirements of special need persons.
They have low floors rising 38 cm above the ground level compared to 100 cm in the ordinary buses; which require three steps to board their decks. He pointed out that the entrance of the second door in the articulated buses has been fitted with an anti-slipping floor to facilitate embarkation and disembarkation of special need persons. The entrance directly leads to the position designated for the wheel chairs or prams.
Al Dossari further added that the new buses are fitted with sophisticated systems and technologies such as voice announcement of the next stop, and a statistical system to count passengers and automatically detect demand on various bus routes. They also include on board GPS linked with the Control Center at the Agency.
“Each of the new buses is fitted with a giant screen (240x1900mm) at the front façade of the bus enabling passengers a clear vision of the bus destination, route and number.
There are also three screens at the right and left hand sides of the bus (190x1100mm) indicating the route, destination and line number in both Arabic & English. Buses are also fitted with internal display monitors at the backside of driver's seat and behind the second and third doors of the articulated buses displaying bus stops, route and line number.
Al Dossari pointed out that the RTA developed a plan to upgrade public transport buses encompassing the purchase of 626 buses at a cost exceeding one billion dirham, the delivery of which started last year and will continue through this year. Accordingly the number of buses will rise to 1200 buses this year.
“The arrival of these buses coincides with the ongoing construction by the RTA of air-conditioned public bus sheds in more than 500 locations. Such sheds provide convenience and excellent service to bus commuters particularly during summer season. They also include a host of services and facilities such as ATMs, and newspapers & soft drinks vending machines. Three recycling units are also in place to allow for recycling of waste paper, glass and metals''.
Al Dossari commented on the arrival of double-decker buses saying that the RTA will take delivery of one bus next month, and is scheduled to receive the remaining buses as of June this year such that the total number will be delivered in full by March 2009.
