RTA saves Dhs48b by reducing traffic congestion

The initiatives by the Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) since its establishment in 2005 has resulted in savings of an estimated Dhs48 billion in terms of time and fuel. Dubai used to lose Dhs4 billion to Dhs6 billion annually as a result of traffic congestion. However, when asked what is the situation now, the Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, Mattar Al Tayer told The Gulf Today that an estimated Dhs48 billion has been saved in terms of time and fuel because of the RTA projects and initiatives. Al Tayer attributed the achievement to laws and integrated solutions for the road systems. Dubai has 1,500 buses and 8,000 taxis. Besides, there are water boats, the two lines of Dubai Metro and over 800 air-conditioned bus shelters. “Every year, losses resulting from traffic congestion are coming down due to laws and integrated solutions for the road systems,” he said. The traffic congestion and jams lead to economic losses with regard to time, resulting in delays, consumption of more fuel and emergency services as these come at a cost. In the UAE the annual cost of traffic congestion is estimated at Dhs10.5 billion per year, according to a 2011 figure from an Abu Dhabi-based Roadway, Transportation and Traffic Safety Research Centre (RTTSRC). The major factor of the cost is high percentage of vehicles per person and a low dependency on public transport as observed by the Assistant Director for Engineering and Planning at Dubai Municipality, Eisa Al Maidour. Since 2009, the RTA has seen an increase in public transport usage from six per cent to the current 111 per cent and the number of people using the mode of transport is growing. Dubai has a target of attaining public transport usage of 30 per cent, including Metro, marine transport, buses and taxis. According to Al Tayer, the use of public transport in most of the developed countries is between 40 an 80 per cent.