Thousands of employees across Dubai could be provided dedicated busing to and from work thanks to a new agreement unveiled on Monday between health, business and education employers and the Roads and Transport Authority.
The RTA says it will embark on a number of studies to determine how best to provide “special buses'' to pick up and deliver employees from their homes to their workplaces.
Another aspect of the agreement could see a major increase in the number of vehicles used for car-pooling to deliver workers to their offices.
Essa Abdurrahman Al Dossari, CEO of the RTA's Public Transport Agency, said at a press conference Monday that the measures could reduce road congestion substantially.
Al Dossari said the RTA is “studying the possibility of providing special buses to transport the employees to and from their headquarters for the great impact it would have on reducing the number or private vehicles on the streets and roads of Dubai.''
He said the RTA needs to “consider how to facilitate the registration procedures of the staff buses for our strategic partners within the RTA's system.''
Al Dossari was flanked at the press conference by leaders of different organisations within the city.
Dr. Suleiman Al Jassim, Director General of Shaikh Zayed University said launching extra busing and car-pooling services would be a great message for the school's 3,400 students and 365 staff.
“I think it's a good idea to start at universities where we have students who will be leaders,'' Al Jassim told reporters.
Abdul Aziz Al Ali, Emirates airlines Vice-President of Human Resources, spoke highly of mass transit, a theme that would greatly help his organisation's 30,000 employees.
“Dubai needs it, we all need it,'' said Al Ali.
Dr. Mustafa Al Hashimy, Director General of Al Baraha Hospital, lauded the bus and car-pool proposal noting that hundreds of hospital employees would benefit greatly.
Anything that reduces traffic congestion to allow doctors on emergency calls to get to their destinations faster is a good idea, he said.
Esam Ibrahim Adam, Chairman of Burjuman Centre, said he was happy to join with the RTA to help ease traffic woes for the 5,000 staff at the shopping centre in Bur Dubai.
Officials at the press conference said they will also launch awareness campaigns within workplaces to encourage people to take the bus or catch a ride with another workmate.
