Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said the public transport means in Dubai, UAE, carried a total of 277.91 million passengers during the first half of the year.

 

The figure shows a steady growth compared with those reported during the same period last year amounting to 275.24 million passengers. It translates into a current daily average of 1.535 million passengers, said the statement from RTA. 

 

These passengers are served by the RTA’s public transport means comprising the metro, tram, buses and marine transit means (abra, ferry, water taxi, water bus) as well as taxis (Dubai Taxi and Franchise companies).

 

Dubai Metro has accounted for the biggest share of public transport users (37.17 per cent), followed by taxis (31.61 per cent), and public buses (27.48 per cent). The Dubai Metro Red and Green Lines ferried 103.292 million commuters during the first half of this year compared to 100.558 million last year. 

 

The Red Line accounted for 66.862 million commuters whereas the Green Line served a total of 36.43 million in the first six months. The Dubai Tram service clocked 3.207 million almost the same number reported last year.

 

Interchange stations of the Dubai Metro lines received the largest number of passengers with Burjuman Station handling 6.369 million passengers and the Union Station a total of 5.488 million.

 

The pecking order of the busiest stations on the Red Line has changed with JLT Station jumping to the top of the list, serving 5.524 million passengers, ranking ahead of Al Rigga Station (4.921 million), and Burj Khalifa-Dubai Mall Station (3.934 million), said the statement from RTA. 

 

On the Green Line, Al Fahidi Station topped the list by serving 4.079 million passengers, followed by Baniyas Station (3.302 million) and the Stadium Station (2.896 million), it stated.

 

According to RTA, public buses served 76.379 million passengers, marine transport means ferried 7.183 million passengers, and 87.849 million passengers used the Dubai Taxi service during the first half of 2018.

 

On the impressive growth, Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, said: "The diverse and extensive projects undertaken by the RTA have contributed to the growth of public transport passengers. The share of public transit means (metro, tram, buses, marine modes) in people’s mobility has leapfrogged from 6 per cent in 2006 to 16.4 per cent in 2017."

 

"When adding taxis, the rate will jump to 25.8 per cent. The plan is to sustain the growth of public transport ridership of the said four modes to 20 per cent by 2020 and 30 per cent by 2030," he stated.

 

He further noted that the RTA’s concept of integrated mobility was an integral part of projects for widening roads networks, crossings, and improvements of public transport. 

 

"Achieving smooth mobility also hinges on the use of sophisticated traffic and transport systems and the introduction of policies to curb the semi-total reliance on private vehicles by migrating people to the use of public transit means. Policies also include car-pooling, especially in Dubai where car ownership rate is one car per every two persons of the population," he added.-TradeArabia News Service