Monday, December 30, 2013

RTA releases exclusive Nol card in celebration of Dubai Expo 2020 win









RTA releases exclusive Nol card in celebration of Dubai Expo 2020 win

Roads & Transport Authority – Manal Khaled:
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has recently issued exclusive Gold and Silver Nol cards for users of public transport means (metro, buses and marine transit modes) in celebration of the success of Dubai bid to host the World Expo 2020.
Luluat Al Asmakh, Deputy Director of Automated Fare Collection, RTA Corporate Technical Support Services Sector, said: “The issuance of the new exclusive card stems from RTA’s intention to celebrate the awarding to Dubai the privilege of hosting the World Expo 2020. The RTA encourages the public to buy the new card, which features the Expo logo and gives a feeling a uniquely distinctive transit experience on board mass transit means. The card will be sold at the Metro stations at a price of 20 dirham until stock lasts.
“The RTA is always keen on offering a diverse package of Silver and Gold Nol cards to mark social, national or international events in a bid to offer public transport riders a distinctive feeling by acquiring these cards commemorating events that enjoy a prominent profile in Dubai. Moreover, we also seek to offer quality services to customers in the context of our endeavours to figure out the best fare payment means in Dubai through using a single card for all public transit means; which can also be used for paying parking fees; an exercise that saves both time and efforts of users.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

RTA gears up for New Year’s celebrations at Dubai Mall – Burj Khalifa, The Palm Jumeirah






RTA gears up for New Year’s celebrations at Dubai Mall – Burj Khalifa, The Palm Jumeirah
The public is urged to use public transport means during the events

Roads &Transport Authority – Nashwan Attaa’ee:
The Team for Managing Traffic Movement and Handling Operational Plans during Official & Annual Events at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has fully prepared a Master Traffic Plan for the movement of vehicles and public transport means during the New Year’s eve; which is marked by an intense traffic movement, particularly in the surroundings of Dubai Mall – Burj Khalifa and the Palm Jumeirah; which is primed to witness world record-breaking firework displays.
Engineer Maitha bin Udai, CEO of RTA Traffic & Roads Agency cum Head of RTA’s Team for Managing Traffic Movement and Handling Operational Plans during Official & Annual Events, said: “The Team has taken all measures necessary to ensure a smooth traffic movement in the vicinity of the Dubai Mall – Burj Khalifa during the New Year’s celebrations. The Traffic Plan in place features the provision of additional parking spaces & directional signage, and 24 hour operation of the metro from 05:30 am on 31/12/2013 up to 00.00 (midnight) of 01/01/2014. The Dubai Metro will adopt a Skip-Stop operation system i.e. stopping at only one station of the following three stations: Business Bay, Dubai Mall – Burj Khalifa, and Financial Center i.e. the Metro will stop at one of these three stations and skip the other two from 04:00 pm on 31/12/2013 up to 04:00 pm on 01/01/2014 in order to increase the passenger capacity of the three stations. During the period the metro ridership is anticipated to hit 749,842 riders on the Red Line and 359,025 riders on the Green Line.
“We have got in hand a ready & approved plan for managing the traffic movement on the New Year’s Eve and the Traffic Management Team attending to this plan has benefited from last years’ experience. The Team has provided 13,500 additional parking slots near the events area; 8000 parking at Meydan, 2,500 parking at the World Trade Center, 1,500 parking at Residency & Foreigners Affairs Department at Jafliya, and 1,500 parking at Zaabeel Park,” explained Maitha.
“Signage are being set up to show the way to the alternative parking and directing the traffic to the internal roads network at the Business Bay to access the Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road to ease the pressure on the Financial Center Road. Work is currently in hand in setting up a solid rail in the median of the Sheikh Zayed Road in the sector along the Burj Khalifa and the Business Bay in order to fend off pedestrian crossing and traffic disruption. A bus shuttle service will be operated to lift the public from the eastern side of the Sheikh Zayed Road to the Western side of the Road, light signals on the Financial Center Road & the Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard will be controlled to ensure the smooth traffic flow during various peak hours, and the Virtual Messaging Signs will be used to alert road users of any road closure as well as directing the public to use alternative locations for parking their vehicles,” she elaborated.
About the services of public buses on the New Year’s Eve, bin Udai said: “60 Feeder Buses will be deployed to serve the users of the Metro, additional parking, and alternative taxi ranks, over and above the existing routes serving the neighbourhood. 15 buses will be deployed to serve Meydan parking, 20 buses to serve Trade Center parking, 15 buses to serve the parking of Zaabeel Park as well as the Residency & Foreigners Affairs Department, and 10 buses will be deployed to move the public from the eastern part of the Sheikh Zayed Road to the Western part of the Road.
Locations of feeder buses have been identified and the principle of dedicated bus lanes will be applied to ease the movement of buses as shown above as well as locations designated for taxi parking and waiting. Buses will be in operation around the clock in a way synchronized with the operation of the metro stations.
Emaar has expressed readiness to bear all operational expenses of above buses, thus riders will be treated to free rides. Public bus ridership is expected to reach 49,920 passengers, and the event held at the Dubai Mall – Burj Khalifa is likely to post a 30% increase in public transport users compared to the numbers recorded last year.
Parking spaces and a dedicated lane have been designated for taxi cabs to facilitate taxi access to the event venue, where two main car parks have been allocated, namely the sandy area of the Business Bay at the end of the tunnel extending from street No. 312 which can house up to 300 vehicles. Both the tunnel and the lane on this street will be restricted to taxis and buses to serve as an express lane from the Trade Center to the event’s venue. The second car park is the sandy area alongside the Financial Center Road, which can accommodate about 500 vehicles. A temporary exit has been set up leading taxi cabs directly from the parking area to Al Khail Road.
Alternative parking spaces have also been designated to accommodate taxi cabs during peak hours at both Trade Center & Jafiliya Station parking lots, besides opening new bus routes to lift passengers to the alternative locations.
Fifty-five Limousine companies will also be invited to offer services to passengers during the event. Taxi cabs are expected to lift 120,400 passengers in 69,000 trips from and to the event’s venue.
During the New Year's Eve celebrations, the Dubai World promises a record-breaking firework shows at the Palm Jumeirah, where fireworks will be displayed all over the Palm Jumeirah. 50,000 viewers are expected to attend the event, including 30,000 people among the residents & visitors of the Atlantis Hotel.
Operational Measures for Managing Traffic Movement at the Palm Jumeirah:
Three checkpoints have been set up as the entry to the Palm Jumeirah on the day will be restricted to residents, invitation & pass card holders, pre-booking holders, taxis cabs and buses; considering that the event organizer will limit access to the authorized personnel only.

Entry to the Palm Jumeirah will be denied to all vehicles including cardholders', taxis cabs and buses at 10:00 p.m. on 31/12/2013 i.e. two hours before the start of firework displays. All roads leading to the Palm from Sufouh Road or from the circular bridges at the Palm's entrance will be closed in coordination with Dubai Police.

Given the lack of parking spaces for such huge attendance inside the Palm Jumeirah and in order to avoid traffic jam in the Palm's internal roads, alternative parking areas have been designated outside the Palm, and accordingly buses will shuttle invited guests and booking holders to the venue. The designated parking spaces are, American University car parks, which hold about 600 vehicles, and the sandy area at the Dubai Internet City, which have space for 1,300 vehicles approx. Atlantis Hotel management expressed readiness to prepare the area and provide all traffic safety means including lighting during the event.
An area along Al Sufouh Road has been designated as a public parking space to enable the public to watch the firework displays. All traffic signals along Al Sufouh Road will be controlled to ease the traffic during peak times.
Concerning public buses service at the Palm Jumeirah area, 40 feeder buses of the Nakheel Harbor & Tower Station will shuttle people between the event’s venue and the alternative car parks mentioned above, where access cards will be checked at the designated parking spaces. The Dubai World has expressed commitment to bear all operation expenses of the above-mentioned bus routes, thus offering free service to the public and facilitating bus riding process.
Moreover, parking lots have been designated for taxi cabs and 55 Limousine companies will be invited to offer service to the public during the event. Taxis on the day are expected to lift 5,200 passengers in 3,000 trips from and to event venue.
The Leader of RTA’s Team for Managing Traffic Movement and Handling Operational Plans during Official & Annual Events said, "The light signals control room will monitor the traffic in the area and the Team will direct it according to the requirements of handling the traffic movement and volume at intersections and streets adjacent to the Burj Khalifa. Variable Messaging Signs will provide guidance to drivers about alternative routes; and operation team members will be available at site to coordinate with the Dubai Police and Emaar to ensure the implementation of the proposed operational plans and carry out the required amendments.
Engineer Maitha bin Udai called upon all community members to use the metro and public transport rather than private vehicles, especially during festivities days held in Dubai, such as for the New Year's Eve celebrations, pointing out that the team's plan had taken into account the demand for public transport and provided whatever required to accommodate the growing numbers of potential riders.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

RTA opens today (Saturday) Phase 1 of Umm Suqeim Rd Widening Project








RTA opens today (Saturday) Phase 1 of Umm Suqeim Rd Widening Project
§  The project comprises the construction of 2 bridges costing AED167m
§  Al Tayer: The project provides free traffic movement between Sh Zayed Rd, Sh Mohammed bin Zayed Rd

Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) inaugurated today (Saturday) 28 December Phase I of Umm Suqeim Road Widening & Improvement Project in the direction from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Zayed Road, and plans to open on 07 January 2014 Phase II of the project in the opposite direction from the Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Khail Road, with all remaining works of the project to be completed by the end of February 2014. The opening of Phase I of the project will coincide with the opening of 3 rustic-design footbridges to ensure smooth and safe pedestrian crossing from Al Qouz to Al Barsha and vice-versa crossing Umm Suqeim Road.
The project comprises the construction of two bridges of three lanes in each direction; the first crossing the Eastern Parallel Road 'Asayil Road, and the second crosses the Western Parallel Road 'Al Khail Road 1'. The Project also encompasses the construction of two signalized junctions at the intersection of 'Asayil Road and Al Khail Road 1, such that these intersections will enable smooth turns in all directions when opened.
HE Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, is delighted with the completion of this vital project which will provide free traffic movement for vehicles coming from the Sheikh Zayed Road, passing through Al Khail Road interchange, Arabian Ranches interchange and heading towards Al Qudra Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (in both directions to Abu Dhabi or Sharjah); and in the opposite direction from the Arabian Ranches interchange to Jumeirah through the interchanges of Al Khail Road and the Sheikh Zayed Road.”
"The project, he added, involves the construction of a service road and car parks on both sides of the road to serve commercial outlets at Al Barsha and Al Qouz Industrial areas, besides addressing the safety levels by providing pavements, two signalized pedestrian crossings and other essential services such as lighting and rainwater drainage."
Al Tayer praised the efforts of the work team and engineers of the Traffic and Roads Agency as well as the staffs of construction firms who have worked tirelessly to deliver the project on the timeline set by RTA.
The Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA further added, "The completion of Umm Suqeim Road Improvement & Widening Project coincided also with the completion of Al Khail Road Improvement & Widening Project; which is one of the giant & vital roads construction projects undertaken by the RTA, costing about one billion and 925 million dirhams. Due to its massive scope, the project was divided into four phases, and the RTA opened at the beginning of this year the last phase of this vital project which represents an extension of the Business Bay Crossing. On 4 January 2013 the RTA opened the last interchange of Al Khail Road Project, which included the construction of a new bridge on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to provide free vehicular traffic movement in all directions. The project also included the construction of two interchanges; the first of which links the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road with Al Khail Road, and the other serves traffic in the opposite direction. It also included increasing the number of lanes from four to six in each direction on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, in addition to other works related to signals, traffic signs and other services.
"At the end of September 2011, the RTA opened the lane-widening of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and in April last year it opened the sloping turns of bridges stretching from Al Khail Road to Dubai, and from Abu Dhabi to Al Khail Road. By the end of August 2014, the RTA will open the sloping turns of bridges that serve the traffic from Dubai to Al Khail Road, and from Al Khail Road to Abu Dhabi along the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
Last November, the RTA fully opened Phase II of the project with a cost tag of AED 762 million comprising the construction of two new flyovers on Al Khail Road to ensure free traffic flow in all directions, instead of the two roundabouts at the intersection of Al Khail Road, Street No. 319 and Street No. 323 at Al Qouz residential & industrial areas. It also includes the widening of Al Khail Road from four to six lanes in each direction in addition to the ongoing construction works in an elevated ramp coming from Al Qouz heading​​ towards Al Khail Road. The project also includes other different road works such as pavement, lighting, light signals, and signage works in addition to works related to traffic diversions, shifting some of the existing utilities intercepting the project's work and the provision of new utility lines needed for the completion of the project," continued Al Tayer.
"The opening of Phase II contributed to a smooth traffic flow on Al Khail Road, and eased bottlenecks in traffic coming from ​​Al Qouz heading towards Al Khail Road by constructing an elevated traffic corridor serving vehicles coming from Al Qouz heading towards Dubai. It also provided smooth traffic flow at the  interchanges with Al Khail Road on the one hand, and the Street No. 323 and 319 on the other hand, besides streamlining the movement of trucks and heavy vehicles at intersection No. 19," added RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director.
“The RTA opened Phase III of Al Khail Road Widening Project in January 2013 which saw the widening of Al Khail Road from four to six lanes in each direction, past the intersection of Umm Suqeim Road up to the intersection of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, as well as modifying the curves at Interchange 13.
"The RTA had also opened most key sectors of Phase IV of Al Khail Road Widening Project, costing about AED 307 million, and encompassing replacing the roundabout at the junction of Al Khail Road and Umm Suqeim Road with a multi-tier interchange to provide free traffic flow in all directions. The project also comprised widening of Al Khail Road from four to six lanes in each direction and shifting as well as protecting the utility lines & facilities impacted by the interchange," concluded Al Tayer.

Captions:
-        Mattar Al Tayer inspects the project’s readiness for opening
-        New bridges offer smooth traffic flow
-        Layout of Phase I of the project to be opened

Friday, December 27, 2013

RTA plans spectacular cruises to mark New Year's celebrations






RTA plans spectacular cruises to mark New Year's celebrations

Roads & Transport Authority – Majdi Abu Zaid:
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is all set for launching another excellent service coinciding with the New Year's Eve celebrations on 31 December 2013 by deploying marine modes (Water Bus, Water Taxi and Dubai Ferry) to provide great sails for customers and avail them the opportunity to watch the carnivalesque celebrations and fireworks displays in several Dubai districts.
Hussain Khan Sahib, Deputy Director of Marine Transport Department, RTA, said, “All trips start before midnight, where the Water Bus will set off from two locations: the first is Dubai Creek, specifically from Al Saif Marine Transport Station, with a ticket priced at AED 75 per person, enabling riders to enjoy fireworks launched from the Dubai Festival City. The second is the Marina, where the Water Bus starts from the Marina Mall near Palm Jumeirah, availing riders the chance to watch carnival games at the Burj Al Arab and the Palm Jumeirah, the World Islands, with a ticket of AED 75 per person.”
“The Water Taxi, which can be hired for AED 1200, sets off from the Dubai Marina Mall and down to the open area between Burj Al Arab, the World Islands and Jumeirah Island,” Khan Sahib added
“Dubai Ferry cruises, he added, start from the Dubai Marina Mall and head towards the open area between the Burj Al Arab, the World Islands and the Palm Jumeirah, with tickets priced at AED 225 for the Gold Class, and AED 150 for the Silver Class. Inquiries and bookings can be made by contacting the call center on 800 9090.
“The RTA seeks to make the marine transit modes a source of entertainment and enjoyable mobility, given Dubai’s attractive waterfront by making spectacular offers that reflect continuous interaction with service beneficiaries. The RTA is making great efforts to up customer satisfaction rating under its third strategic goal “Customers First” and its vision “Safe and Smooth Transport for all,” concluded the Deputy Director of the Marine Transport.