More dedicated bus, taxi lanes planned for Dubai

Just over 13 km of dedicated bus and taxi lanes are set to be built on six streets in Dubai, says the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). 

On Sunday, the RTA announced that it has endorsed a plan to construct dedicated lanes for buses and taxis extending 13.1 km on six key streets: Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, 2nd of December, Al Satwa, Al Nahda, Omar bin Al Khattab, and Naif Streets.

The project is set for completion between 2025 and 2027, and it will add to Dubai’s current existing 7km of dedicated bus lanes. 

“The project is designed to shorten travel times, ensure compliance with bus timetables, increase public transport ridership, and enhance the efficiency of taxi services,” said Mattar Al Tayer, who is director general and chairman of the board of directors at the RTA

Al Tayer further said the expansion of dedicated bus lanes is expected to decrease bus travel times from 24 per cent to 59 per cent during peak hours and enhance bus arrival time used on the dedicated routes from 28 per cent to 56 per cent.

More specifically, bus journey times are set to be reduced by 59 per cent on Naif Street, 54 per cent on Al Satwa Road, 50 per cent on Omar Bin Al Khattab Street, and 38 per cent on Al Nahda Street.

Currently, the RTA has 7km of dedicated bus and taxi lanes in Dubai. This includes 4.3 km on Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road, from the intersection with Al Mina Street to just before its junction with Zabeel Street.

Additional lanes were also previously added along parts of Naif Street, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street, and Al Ghubaiba Road.