Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that work has been completed on Phase III of the Dedicated Bus and Taxi Lanes Project on Khalid bin Al Waleed Street which is due to open on January 21. 

 

The lane extends 4.3 km from the intersection of Khalid bin Al Waleed Street-Al Mina Street, to a point just before the intersection of Zabeel Street, and in both directions, said RTA in a statement.

 

The project included the construction of pedestrian paths, air-conditioned shelters for bus and taxi riders, streetlights, roadside parking and landscaping. 

 

The dedicated lane, which has been marked in a distinctive red colour, will be opened to the public on January 21. 

 

In the lead-up to this date, bus drivers will be using the lanes on a trial basis, until the service is put into formal operation, stated RTA.

 

By completing Phase III, the total length of dedicated bus and taxi lanes rises to 11.6 km, spread over seven key streets, including Al Mankhool, Al Khaleej, Khalid bin Al Waleed, Al Ghubaiba, Naif, Al Ittihad and Al Mina Streets.

 

Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, the director-general, chairman of the board of RTA Executive Directors, said: "Building dedicated bus and taxi lanes is a successful global practice that encourages people to ride public transport means, rather than in private vehicles. It is a common practice in several metropolitan cities in North America and Europe."

 

"It aims to increase the percentage of compliance with on-time departures, encourage the public to use mass transport, improve taxi arrival times, and reduce direct and indirect operational costs, as well as the pollution from emissions," noted Al Tayer. 

 

"The project will also contribute to realising the strategic goal of Integrated Dubai, improve the living standards and enhance the happiness of public transport riders," he added.

 

Earlier, RTA completed the construction of dedicated bus lanes stretching 7.3 km that include parts of Naif Street (1 km), portions of Al Ittihad Road (500m), Al Mina Street (1700m from Kuwait Street to the Falcon intersection), Al Mankhool Street (1800m from Al Satwa R/A to Sheikh Rashid Street), Al Khaleej Street (1700m from the Creek Street to Al Musalla Street), Khalid bin Al Waleed Street (100m from Al Mina Street Intersection to Street 16), and Al Ghubaiba Street (500m from Al Mina Street intersection to Street 12).

 

According to Al Tayer, the completion of Phase III of the project culminates in the huge successes of the initial two phases of the project, which saved about 5 minutes in the journey of each bus, and improved bus journey times by 24 percent. 

 

"It also improved the satisfaction of bus and taxi riders. Currently, 40 bus routes use dedicated lanes, including 19 routes that use Khalid bin Al Waleed Street," he added.-TradeArabia News Service