RTA integrates Dubai’s mass transit modes

Aim to make public transport the first mobility choice of residents, visitors and tourists coming to Dubai from across the world.

The Micro Bus programme will work out bus route schedules. —KT file photo

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced key technologies and ultra-modern scientific techniques to boost the integration of mass transit modes in Dubai designed to make public transport the first mobility choice of residents, visitors and tourists coming to Dubai from across the world.

The sophisticated technologies introduced are the Visum programme, Micro Bus programme, Hustus programme, the AVM system, Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI, and Journey Planner or Wojhati programme.

Nasir Hamad Bu Shehab, Director of Strategic Planning, Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said the sophisticated technologies are coupled with the diversified, enhanced and revamped bus routes to boost the integration of mass transit means in the emirate.

He said Visum programme is tailor-made for studying transportation plans, estimating the number of trips generated by land uses, and estimating the ridership of public transport means.

“Micro Bus programme, on the other hand, is used to work out Bus Route Schedules and boasts of state-of-the-art techniques capable of uplifting the performance efficiency in serving public buses through optimising the use of buses and drivers in line with the best global practices,” he said.

The Hustus programme is a sophisticated system used for scheduling bus routes. It has advanced features that step up the efficiency of serving public buses in a way ensuring the optimal utilisation of buses and drivers at world-class standards. “The programme also boasts of additional features that include the automatic update of compliance with the set timetables, providing printouts of bus timetables, and using bus timetables points system,” Bu Shehab said.

The AVM system, he explained, is an automated bus management system aimed at providing instant tracking of buses in cooperation with the Operations Control Centre (OCC) in which bus compliance with the set timetables is verified and precautionary measures are taken to avoid undermining the bus journeys through providing Curtail Trips, Emergency Response System, and coping with the Road Closure System.

“This system interfaces with the Automated Fare Collection (AFC) system and the GIS system used in capturing the data of transport and road projects under an integrated database that comprises satellite images and land uses,” he added. The Unified Automated Fare Collection card is a smart card that enables the public to pay the fares of all public transport of RTA in Dubai using a single card — the Nol card — including the Dubai Ferry, Water Bus and the Water Taxi as well as the parking fees in RTA paid parking zones.

Other systems and programmes that played a key role in the integration of public transport means include the Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI), a programme that keeps public transport users informed of timetables of mass transit modes in an immediate and updated fashion.

The Journey Planner or Wojhati programme is another key system that helps public transport users determine the best mobility modes and provides updated and accurate information about the nearest means of transport available to users depending on the their locations, destination and trip time.

Bu Shehab said other factors in the integration of public transport include the increase in the number of public bus routes, intercity bus routes, and marine transit routes including Dubai Ferry, Water Bus and Water Taxi.

Facilities for special needs are also provided in the highest international standards. Others are accurate departure and arrival timetables to various destinations in the emirate, high degree of safety, luxury and spaciousness in all modes of public transport. -lily@khaleejtimes.com