New Dubai bus-taxi lane opens today; Dh600 fine for violators

Dubai - Trials carried out on the new lane showed that it could cut bus travel time by as much as 24%.

The dedicated bus and taxi lane on Khalid Bin Al Waleed St in Dubai is set to open today, January 21, the Roads and Transport Authority has announced.

Trials carried out on the new lane showed that it could cut bus travel time by as much as 24 per cent.

READ ON: Dubai adds more bus, taxi lanes to help you beat traffic

To ensure that road users are informed, the RTA put up signs at the lane entry, explaining the types of vehicles allowed to pass through, said Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, RTA.

Motorists who will be caught using the lane shall be fined Dh600. The lane was given a distinctive red colour with pavement marking of buses to guide road users and avoid accidental use of the bus-taxi strip. Signages were installed at the start and middle of the lane along with light signals.

“This lane, which constitutes Phase III of the Dedicated Bus and Taxi Lanes Project, extends 4.3km on both directions of Khalid Bin Al Waleed St from Al Mina St junction to a point just before Zabeel Street junction,” Bahrozyan said.

About 19 bus routes would be able to use the lane, which meant there would be as many as 60 buses on the stretch every hour, Bahrozyan said, “Bus drivers were familiarised with the use of this lane during a trial period from January 11 to 20.”

The RTA’s bus and taxi lanes project also includes the construction of pedestrian walkways, air-conditioned shelters, street lights, roadside parking and landscaping works, the official said.

Earlier, the authority has completed the construction of dedicated bus lanes stretching 7.3km that included parts of Naif Street (1km); parts 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).

reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai