Launching 8th Public Transport Day marking RTA’s 12th anniversary

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will launch on Wednesday 1.11.2017 the 8th edition of Public Transport Day initiative corresponding to the first of November each year and coinciding with the RTA’s 12th anniversary.

On this occasion, RTA announces the installation of 10 air-conditioned bus shelters in Dubai Academic Area. The initiative is part of Phase II of the 400 air-conditioned bus shelters project spanning various areas of Dubai. Construction works are set to start early 2018.

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said: “The Public Transport Day initiative has succeeded in realising its objectives. It has contributed to enhancing Dubai's role in improving the environment, achieving sustainable development, encouraging the use of mass transit modes and raising the share of public transport by showcasing its benefits. The initiative also promotes the modern mass transit system offered by the RTA including the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public transport buses and marine transport, as well as the integration of various transport means.”

Diverse events

"The 8th Public Transportation Day promises to have intense turnout from government bodies, educational institutions and the private sector. RTA also stages other events in line with the Dubai Fitness Challenge initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council. Events of the Public Transport Day, which run from 23 October to 1 November, are divided into three categories: The first is the most frequent riders of public transport means using nol Card. The second is the public transport race, which starts on November 1st and will be open to all. Participants will be divided into teams moving through several metro, tram, public bus, and marine transport stations. Participants are required to perform some exercises upon arrival at each station. The third category is the Golden Runner Competition, where participants have to follow RTA's social networking sites to locate the Golden Runner who visits three RTA’s stations every day from 23 October to 1 November,” said Al Tayer.

“The integrated mass transport system in Dubai, which includes Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, buses and marine transit modes, has become a major factor in moving people to various areas in Dubai. The number of mass transit users rocketed from 163 million in 2006 to 544 million 2016. As a result, the public transport share grew dramatically from 6 percent in 2006 to 16 percent in 2016, and RTA plans to raise this rate to as much as 20% by 2020.

“Since the launch of the metro service on 09/09/2009 to the end of August 2017, the metro has lifted 1.028 billion riders (689 million by the Red Line and 339 million by the Green Line). Public buses lifted 1.3 billion commuters from 2006 to 2016, while marine modes carried about 178 million riders during the same period,” elaborated Al Tayer.

Future projects

"RTA aims to make public transport the preferred choice for residents including citizens and visitors in their daily commute, be it to workplaces or leisure facilities. Plans aim at upgrading the infrastructure & efficiency of mass transit systems and expanding smart services offered to the public. One of the key mass transit projects to be implemented in the next five years is ‘Route 2020’ the 15-km extension of Dubai Metro's Red Line from Nakheel Harbour and Tower station to Dubai Expo 2020 venue. 50 new trains will be added to the Dubai Metro fleet: 15 to serve Expo and 35 to serve the existing lines to upgrade Dubai Metro services and keep pace with the rising growth of Dubai metro ridership.

“RTA also plans to expand the bus network to cover 16 new areas, besides improving services in 19 areas by 2020. It will also upgrade the marine transport system, which will witness significant growth upon completion of urban facilities on both banks of the Dubai Water Canal that links the Business Bay with the Arabian Gulf,” concluded Al Tayer.

About The Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai

Since Dubai is one of the fastest growing cities in today's world, making the provision of high quality infrastructure facilities absolutely imperative, and since providing an advanced transport network for the people of Dubai has been high on the government’s agenda, which is evident from its initiatives to enhance the public transport facilities and improve roads across the emirate to make travel safer and smoother.