RTA announces new 13km bus and taxi lanes

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the construction of new lanes for buses and taxis that extend 13km over six key streets.

The new dedicated lanes will cover Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, 2nd of December, Al Satwa, Al Nahda, Omar bin Al Khattab, and Naif Streets.

The construction is scheduled for completion between 2025 and 2027 and when complete will extend Dubai's network of dedicated bus lanes to 20.1 km.

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, DirectorGeneral, Chairman of the Board of Directors, RTA, said: "The dedicated bus and taxi lanes are part of key global practices and successful transportation policies that assist in encouraging residents to use public transport means rather than their private vehicles.

Dubai’s #RTA 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. Scheduled for completion between 2025 and… pic.twitter.com/90GswK6PxF

— RTA (@rta_dubai) April 28, 2024

“The project is designed to shorten travel times, ensure compliance with bus timetables, increase public transport ridership, and enhance the efficiency of taxi services. It also aims to cut operational costs, step up the integration of various transport modes, and reduce emissions. These elements contribute to supporting a host of strategic goals such as integrated Dubai, fostering well-being, and raising the happiness of public transport riders.

"The expansion of these dedicated bus lanes is projected to decrease bus travel times by rates varying from 24 percent to 59 percent during peak hours and enhance bus arrival time used on the dedicated routes from 28 percent to 56 percent.

Previously, RTA opened dedicated bus lanes extending 7 km. This included a combined bus and taxi lane spanning 4.3 km on Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road, from the intersection with Al Mina Street to just before its junction with Zaabeel Street, in both directions. Additional lanes were added along parts of Naif Street (1 km), Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street (1.2 km from Satwa Roundabout to Sheikh Rashid Road), and Al Ghubaiba Road (0.5 km from the intersection with Al Mina Street to Street No. 12).