RTA Wants Expansion of Intercity Bus Services to Elevate Commute in UAE

In an effort to fill a long-overdue gap in the public transportation system that is better assimilated and more efficient, the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai is advancing its plan to upgrade its bus network, also including intercity bus services, reports said. The plan was made known after RTA recently staged its virtual ‘Talk to Us’ session, where commuters aired their suggestions and recommendations on improving public transport throughout the UAE.

RTA said that the meeting was keen on the intra-city bus services within Dubai as well as intercity routes linking the city with other emirates. The attendees pointed out the necessity of improving the connectivity between buses and other types of mass transport, such as the metro, tram, and marine transport, in a way that makes the commute smoother for passengers. “The proposed expansion is needed to meet the booming public demand for bus services and ensure smooth passenger travel,” RTA officials claimed.

Statistics of the first six months of 2024 prove that buses carried 89.2 million passengers and constituted 24.5% of public transportation in the city, indicating a basic role that buses play in the transport system of Dubai.

Coming in the wake of the new RTA drive on decongestion of peak hour traffic, increasing bus network with some work-from-anywhere and flexible working hours that should help decongest, and research has proven that such measures may ease morning peak travels by 30%. Other proposals under discussion for traffic management include upgrading truck movement restrictions, increasing bus and taxi lanes, and offering first- and last-mile solutions to encourage more people to use public transport.

The vision of RTA is to make travel commuting hassle-free and sustainable while reducing dependence on private vehicles that would ultimately smooth out the traffic in the city.