Starting right now, post a thread about Bus rapid transit in here.

Bus rapid transit system to be implemented on capital’s main arteries

By Khalid Neimat

AMMAN - The capital’s main roads will take on a new look in 2012 following the implementation of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) said on Sunday.

“Amman BRT will be the city’s first rapid transit system,” Ayman Smadi, director of GAM’s public transportation department, told The Jordan Times yesterday.

The new system entails premium, high-capacity buses running on exclusive and completely segregated lanes, he said, explaining that the bus lanes will be separated from traffic by two medians on each side. According to Smadi, the system includes high-quality stations and stops; express buses that can carry more than 120 passengers and will run on a three-minute frequency during peak hours along Amman’s busiest corridors; terminals and park-n-ride facilities, and an integrated fare collection system allowing passengers to pay the fare at stations before embarking on the bus.

“The BRT network will cover a total of 32km along three major corridors,” he added.

Under the project plan, the first BRT will connect the suburb of Sweileh with Mahatta via the Sports City to serve the University of Jordan; the second will link the Sports City with Ras El Ain in downtown Amman; while the third will operate between the Customs Square in Muqablain and Mahatta, Smadi noted.

The system is expected to be fully operational in 2012 with a capacity of about 7,000 passengers per hour in each direction, he added.

The project design takes into consideration future traffic needs and therefore the capacity can be increased to over 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction at 90 minute headways, Smadi said.

As part of the project, GAM is rehabilitating the entire route, including sidewalks, crosswalks, parking areas and landscaping, he added, noting that one of the key components of the design is ensuring seamless integration with feeder services, including regular bus and service taxi routes near BRT stations.

All buses will carry the BRT brand and provide modern amenities such as air conditioning, electronic payment and information systems and low floor entry, Smadi said, indicating that the initial fleet will consist of around 130-150 express buses, each with a capacity of 120-150 passengers.

“One of GAM’s objectives is to maintain a high level of service by reducing the number of passengers per bus, especially for express routes such as between the Middle East Square and the University of Jordan,” he said.

The system will reduce the traffic level gradually after its implementation, Smadi added.


14 June 2010

http://jordantimes.com/?news=27435

There is a picture if you want

http://yfrog.com/3vlb2cj

GAM closes Queen Rania Rd. lanes for Amman Rapid Bus Transit system construction

2010-06-23

AMMONNEWS - Banan Malkawi - Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) will begin on Friday construction work for the Amman Rapid Bus Transit (RBT) System on two parts of Queen Rania Al Abdullah Street in the Kingdom’s first rapid transportation system, which is expected to be fully operational by 2012.

GAM announced that it will close one lane on each side of the main road and allow traffic to use the remaining two lanes in each direction, in addition to reducing speed to 50 km/h in both directions in two sections of Queen Rania Al Abdullah street; from Yajouz Intersection near Sweileh to the University of Jordan Mosque intersection, and in the area between the University of Jordan Hospital Bridge and the Sahafa Tunnel.

GAM is asking drivers to take precautions and abide by traffic signs when passing by construction areas, and using the designated detours to maintain traffic flow.

The Amman BRT system is the first rapid transit system in the Kingdom which will operate high-capacity buses running on segregated lanes between the two street directions and will have a capacity to transport nearly 7,000 passengers per hour in each direction, GAM said.

The BRT system will cover approximately 30 kilometers covered by three BRT lines, the first connecting Al Mahatta with Suweileh through Sports City, the second connecting Sports City with Ras Al Ain in the downtown Amman area, and the third linking the Muqablain (Customs Square) in southern Amman with the Mahatta district.

http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleNO=8606

CONSTRUCTION HAS ALREADY STARTED TODAY, I AM SO EXCITED THAT OUR BELOVED CITY AMMAN WILL HAVE ITS FIRST WORLD CLASS PUBLIC TRANSPORT WHICH IS THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT. CHEERS FOR THAT.:cheers::banana::banana::banana:

There is the website
http://www.ammanbrt.jo

Maani Reviews the Various Merits of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project

New Date : 26/06/2010

The Mayor of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) , Engineer Omar Maani said that the Bus Rapid Transit “Rapid Bus” Project which GAM has already commenced executing its first phase-two sections on Queen Rania Street- is an integrated and flexible bus system depending on extending fast and safe service. Engineer Maani stressed though the program” With the Mayor” on Hawa Amman 105.9 FM that GAM’s aim behind developing the public transport matrix in Amman is to encourage the residents to use public transport modes as the private cars number is soaring, referring, at the same time, to the fact that 75-80 thousand additional cars are being licensed annually. He further outlined that the speed of such buses ranges between 35 to 50 km per hour and they use special lanes with well studied frequencies. They allow for high capacity of 120- 180 passengers each, on two or three sections, and with specified stop stations. He said that the rapid buses capacity, the study and planning of which took a year and a half, is estimated at 6-9 thousand passengers an hour. According to the Mayor, the bus shuttling frequency in the first phase in Queen Rania Street is estimated at three minutes, and regularly. He talked about the merits of the project stating that it is distinguished by an electronic propelling system and an information system about the timing of the buses arrivals. In reference to the passengers, the Mayor said that around 43 thousand of the University of Jordan students, and employees coming from the North, the Center, the Middle Ghor (Jordan Valley), and Al Salt shall benefit from the Project, calling on the citizens to bear with GAM and be patient , and that they should abide by the directional signs. In the same context, the Mayor pointed out that GAM is about to finalize the complete study of the project of the light railway matrix in Amman, which, according to him, is the third phase of developing the public security. He said that the locations of the main stations of the railway have been outlined, so have been their tracks. He added that the French Company which was awarded the tender of studying the ecological situation, and the economical feasibility and pattern is about to finish the study. As for the trees which were in the middle islands of Queen Rania Street , like palm trees and Washingtonia, Engineer Maani said that they shall be moved to Aqaba and Ghor Al Safi, the suitable habitat for planting such trees, much more than the heights. In the program presented by Rozeen Al Naber, Mayor Maani delineated that GAM, within the few coming weeks, shall award a number of projects such as the rehabilitation and maintenance of stairs, including 12 stairs in various regions of Amman.

Thanks lealfonse for enlightening us on this exciting project. I just hope they can stick to being efficient and ON TIME as advertised. In Europe, when the sign on the bus stop says the next bus is due at 3:03 p.m for example, you look at your watch and its 3:02 p.m and you can just see the bus coming from a distance and arrives -as usual- on the dot and they have been doing this for as long as public transportation came into existence. I will be pleasantly surprised if Amman can do this and consistently. Will have to wait and see….

Thanks lealfonse for enlightening us on this exciting project. I just hope they can stick to being efficient and ON TIME as advertised. In Europe, when the sign on the bus stop says the next bus is due at 3:03 p.m for example, you look at your watch and its 3:02 p.m and you can just see the bus coming from a distance and arrives -as usual- on the dot and they have been doing this for as long as public transportation came into existence. I will be pleasantly surprised if Amman can do this and consistently. Will have to wait and see….

Your more than welcome, i am so excited to see this kind of project. It will be very beneficial for all the people in Amman and God i hope it will reduce the traffic since it is getting crowded every year.

I'm quite interested in this project as it would hopefully ease congestions on Amman's roads and modernize the public transport industry and bring it in par with more advanced countries. I'm sure there will be quite big challenges in trying maintain efficiency, cleanliness and punctuality. I hope it lives up to its promises. Lealfonse, how does GAM intend to prepare special lanes and other infra structure when Amman's streets are woefully narrow? Also, would you have any idea what the busses would look like?

Cheers

I'm quite interested in this project as it would hopefully ease congestions on Amman's roads and modernize the public transport industry and bring it in par with more advanced countries. I'm sure there will be quite big challenges in trying maintain efficiency, cleanliness and punctuality. I hope it lives up to its promises. Lealfonse, how does GAM intend to prepare special lanes and other infra structure when Amman's streets are woefully narrow? Also, would you have any idea what the busses would look like?

Cheers

Honestly I dont know, that u should ask to the GAM official themselves since they are the one implementing that project. But based on my opinion, Whatever they are doing right now; i am sure it will be very successful. Having a project like that is 100% much better than creating a public road, intersection. highway or bridges perhaps. According to GAM, there are dozen of thousand of new cars coming to the City annually and this is considered bad at all, right now we should wait and I am sure the news will be good and success.

New pedestrian bridges, tunnels to facilitate passenger access to BRT stations

By Khalid Neimat

AMMAN - New pedestrian bridges and tunnels will be built along the route of the capital’s first rapid transit system to facilitate passenger access to 41 bus stations, a Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) official said on Saturday.

The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system entails premium, high-capacity buses running on exclusive and completely segregated lanes, according to Ayman Smadi, director of GAM’s public transportation department.

The first phase of the project, which is currently under construction, will need six months to be ready, he told The Jordan Times yesterday.

Although the BRT will create a new concept for public transportation in the Kingdom, the construction of the first phase entails reducing street widths, Smadi noted.

"Implementation of the BRT project requires certain safety procedures, including reducing speed limits to 50km per hour and narrowing the streets until the end of the construction period," he explained.

The system includes high-quality stations and stops, express buses that can carry more than 120 passengers and will run on a three-minute frequency during peak hours along Amman’s busiest corridors, terminals and park-n-ride facilities, and an integrated fare collection system allowing passengers to pay the fare at stations before embarking on the bus, according to GAM.

GAM will construct pedestrian bridges and tunnels, as well as zebra crossing points to allow people to cross the streets to gain access to the bus stations on the route, Smadi said.

“The BRT network will cover a total of 32km along three major corridors,” he added, noting that GAM started construction of the first phase last week.

The first BRT will connect the suburb of Sweileh with Mahatta via the Sports City to serve the University of Jordan.

GAM has already implemented safety procedures on Queen Rania Al Abdullah Street, including plastic separators cordoning off the construction area to ensure the safety of workers on the project, as well as cars and pedestrians using the road, Smadi said.

The second BRT will link the Sports City with Ras Al Ain in downtown Amman, while the third will operate between the Customs Square in Muqablain and Mahatta, according to Smadi, who noted that the system is expected to be fully operational in 2012 with a capacity of about 7,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

As part of the project, GAM is rehabilitating the entire route, including sidewalks, crosswalks, parking areas and landscaping, he added, noting that one of the key components of the design is ensuring seamless integration with feeder services, including regular bus and service taxi routes near BRT stations.

The system is operational in more than 30 countries across the world and others have plans to build it to ease traffic congestions on their streets, according to web sources.

4 July 2010


http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=28024

Authorities struggle to keep traffic in check

By Khalid Neimat

AMMAN - Amid ongoing infrastructure projects and the ever-increasing number of cars on the road, Amman authorities are fighting a losing battle to keep traffic moving in the capital.

While Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) officials say that several of the infrastructure projects currently under way will ultimately help solve the city's traffic woes, drivers are feeling the city's growing pains as construction ties up already strained thoroughfares.

"It's getting worse," said Ayda Abu Taleb, a housewife who drives her children to school each morning. "Now we don't even notice a difference between the school and off-school seasons."

Traffic Department Director Brigadier General Adnan Freih said the department deploys hundreds of traffic policemen during summer to ease congestion, with officers directing traffic at each circle, "but it seems the situation is getting out of control".

Freih, who has headed the department for the past few years, blamed the city's traffic problem on an increasing number of visitors entering the Kingdom by car from neighbouring countries, particularly the Arab Gulf states.

Each summer, he said, there is an influx of hundreds of thousands of cars into the Kingdom, causing congestion in several parts of the country, particularly in the capital.

"This is on top of the newly licensed cars," Freih pointed out.

Nearly 40,000 new cars were imported into the Kingdom during the first half of 2010, increasing from just under 34,000 in the same period last year, according to official figures (see separate story).

The ongoing construction of several infrastructure projects within Amman, including transport projects as well as maintenance and renovation of the city's sewage, water and electricity systems are other sources of traffic congestion and frustration for drivers, Freih said.

He noted that GAM has initiated major transport projects, such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on main corridors within the capital, whose construction is compounding an already bad traffic situation.

Ayman Smadi, director of Transport and Traffic Management at GAM, told The Jordan Times that the municipality chose to start implementing the BRT project on Queen Rania Al Abdullah Street during the summer, when most students at the University of Jordan are off and only a few are attending summer classes.

“If the project started at a different timeة the situation would be even worse than it is now,” a GAM official said.

The street, one of the busiest roads within Amman, serves major educational, health and other public service institutions including the university, in addition to many private companies and shops.

The BRT project, which will replace minibuses on several major roads in the capital, will add value to the public transportation system and facilitate movement within Amman, Smadi said.

The municipality plans to build and operate the BRT on three routes: Mahatta to Sweileh (15km); Muhajireen to Sports City (7km); and Mahatta to Customs Square (almost 8km).

Parking is prohibited on both sides of Queen Rania Street during construction and will be rearranged with other alternatives after the completion of the project, according to Smadi.

The official noted that the road will have three lanes in each direction for regular traffic after the two BRT lanes are added.

The project, he said, will reduce the number of vehicles on the busy street, particularly after GAM prohibits the minibuses - known as “Coaster” buses - from operating there.

“We are anticipating a modern service on Queen Rania Street with much better traffic movement,” Smadi said.

The second phase of the project will start in two months on Princess Basma Street, which runs through the Abdoun Valley towards Ras Al Ain, according to the GAM Press Centre.

Meanwhile, Amman residents have expressed frustration at the current conditions of their city’s roads, with one driver describing the streets in the capital as a “can of tuna”.

“It is not our fault if the city was badly planned,” said Ihab Safi, as he stood next to his Mercedes parked on Al Madina Al Munawwara Street, also one of Amman’s busiest corridors.

“But if the ongoing construction and development in Amman will bring about a solution to the problem, then I think it is worth waiting for,” he added.

An engineer working at GAM, who asked to remain unnamed, believes it is, although he acknowledged that it will be some time before Amman residents and visitors see any change in the level of traffic congestion.

“It is a temporary situation, and we will thank them all after the project is completed if an ambulance manages to save the life of one person with a critical medical emergency by driving unimpeded on the street,” he pointed out.

12 July 2010

http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=28257

Bus Rapid Transit project to launch today

The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project will be officially launched today at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Samir Rifai, an official said on Wednesday.

The launching ceremony comes as part of efforts to highlight the aims and benefits of the BRT project, on which construction started last month, according to Amman Mayor Omar Maani.

“The project is one of the largest in the capital and after it starts operations, it will positively reflect on citizens’ lives and the city’s future,” Maani said during a Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) Council meeting yesterday.

Addressing municipal council members at their monthly meeting, Maani stressed that the project is “vital and important” for the capital’s future development.

GAM and the Traffic Department have enacted a plan this week to ease traffic congestion caused by the BRT construction works, Maani pointed out.

“Traffic congestion during such large-scale projects is normal and happens all over the world,” he added.

The municipality will launch a media campaign on Thursday to raise citizens’ awareness of the project and how it will benefit Amman residents, the GAM press centre said in a statement issued yesterday.

The new system is based on premium, high-capacity buses which will run routes in completely segregated lanes in a bid to add value to the public transportation system and facilitate movement within the capital, according to GAM.

The BRT line will initially run along Queen Rania Street, with plans to build and operate the BRT on three routes: Mahatta to Sweileh (15km); Muhajireen to Sports City (7km); and Mahatta to Customs Square (nearly 8km).

Meanwhile, Maani said GAM will not give preferential treatment to any candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Addressing a concern raised by council member Ali Hadid that GAM services and privileges may be abused by candidates to gain votes, Maani said the municipality will “treat all candidates within Amman equally”.

“The municipality will not spare any effort to facilitate the elections, as per instructions and in cooperation with concerned authorities,” Maani added.

Hello :wave: i hope this is useful

VAQUCz1UdR0

for construction photos please follow this link (couldn't post the images)
http://www.ammanbrt.jo/ar/media.asp

GAM Carries on with BRT Project

26 August 2010
Amman, Jordan - Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) continues construction works within the first phase of its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project which commenced in June 2010.

The first phase of the project include 2200 m long in two sections in Queen Rania street; the first from nearby Sweileh to the University of Jordan Mosque, and the second in the area between Al-Arina Hotel and the Sahafa Tunnel.

GAM's Transport and Traffic Management Director, Dr Ayman Al-Smadi said that all construction works will be completed this December, according to the time table set by GAM with the contractors.

Moreover, Smadi stressed that the construction works carried out by GAM
included excavations, settling the location and removing poles and trees from the median. In addition, the Municipality has set up service lines below the street level including a rain water draining line dedicated to the BRT lane. GAM also worked on fixing and maintaining the current service lines through lowering the level of sewage and rain water drainage lines.

Smadi also revealed that GAM is going to finish up street furnishing, which it commenced this month, by the end of September; the Municipality is currently working on the first phase of installing street furnishings.

According to Smadi, the upcoming stages of the project include setting up sidewalks at the street and putting up lighting units, plant basins, and the final layer of street pavements. GAM will be launching a number of construction phases for the project at

Princess Basma, Al-Shahid and Al-Aqsa streets within its plan to carry on with infrastructure work in two years.

The completed construction work makes up 15% from the required work for the first stage of the project.

BRT is considered to be an essential part of the Municipality's metropolitan scheme aiming at rehabilitating the public transportation system in the capital to ensure its improvement and development in terms of services provided to people.

Furthermore, GAM's persevering work on BRT aims at providing citizens with fast, safe, highly dependable public transportation services.

Smadi highlighted that the BRT will provide transportation services that are to cut back on the use of private cars, noting that the rapid buses capacity in the opening year, is estimated at 6500-7000 passengers an hour.

GAM's aims at developing public transportation matrix in Amman in order to encourage residents to use public transportation means rather than private cars, as the number of the latter is soaring; Smadi noted that around 75000-80000 additional cars are being licensed annually.

The speed of the rapid buses ranges between 35 to 50 km per hour; they will use specific lanes with well studied frequencies allowing a high capacity of 120- 180 passengers each.

Rapid Buses are distinguished by an electronic propelling system, time arrival information system, high-quality stations and stops, terminals and park-n-ride facilities for users to move between different public transportation means easily.

The 32 km long BRT project will be implemented on three main routes in Amman; the first from Sweileh Circle to Al-Mahatta via the University of Jordan, Sports City, Al-Shahid and Al-Istiqlal streets; the second will link Ras El-Ein with Sports City via Princess Basma street and the Fifth Circle, while the third will operate between Al-Mahatta and Customs Square via Al-Yarmouk street and Middle East square.

BRT service is the cornerstone to a modern metropolitan transportation system in Amman which will mainly revolve around developing the BRT and Metro systems in the near future.
GAM is working to improve and develop the current public transportation services with modern buses and up to date street furnishings.

-Ends-

© Press Release 2010

http://www.khaberni.com/assets/images/41392_38160.JPG

The article says that second phase of construction will start next month at the university of Jordan

source: http://www.khaberni.com/more.asp?ThisID=41392&ThisCat=1

Thanks for the update its great to see some progress has been made.

I love infrastructure projects

Congrats :)

I cant wait to see this project alive.

Hey guys, I use to live in Amman and left 3 months ago, back then they had just tore up the middle of Share3 il Jam3a so it doesnt look like they have made much progress since then :s Either case this project is ambisous but I support it. I think its a great idea and is really needed. I just hope its the right solution for the right problems in Amman. I can't help but feel that some how this project isn't gonna turn out to be as great as we all want it to be. You know how things get done in our country. It always starts with nobel goals and aspirations, but somehow it all gets lost along the way. But I hope its not the case for Amman's BRT. Please keep up posted on how it is going guys!

الأمانة تطرح عطاء الحزمة الثانية من مشروع الباص السريع الشهر المقبل

تاريخ الخبر: 14/09/2010
تواصل أمانة عمان الكبرى العمل بمشروع الباص السريع ، حيث أنهت تحضير طبقة ماتحت الأساس لإستقبال الفرشيات ضمن المشروع.

وبين المدير التنفيذي للنقل والمرور في الأمانة الدكتور أيمن الصمادي أنه سيتم إستخدام البازلت في الخلطة الإسفلتية العلوية لتحسين ورفع سوية الطريق ، كما سيتم المباشرة بتركيب أحجار الكندرين الخارجي التي تفصل مسارات الباص السريع عن المركبات، ليصار بعدها الى إزالة الحواجز الحالية ، وإعادة الطريق الى وضعه السابق .

واضاف الدكتور الصمادي أن ألأمانة جهزت وثائق عطاء الحزمة الثانية من المشروع تمهيدا لطرحه خلال الشهر المقبل والتي ستشمل شارع الأميرة بسمة بالإضافة الى المقطع الممتد من مسجد الجامعة وحتى مستشفى الجامعة والذي سيكون منخفضا عن مستوى الشارع الرئيسي بواقع 3 امتار على الاقل تحت الأرض بثلاثة مسارب للباص السريع ومحطات موصولة بأنفاق مشاه عند الجامعة الأردنية .

وستواصل الأمانة العمل بشكل متوازي في كافة مقاطع المشروع لضمان سرعة الإنجاز وفق الخطة وبرنامج التنفيذ .

وتستكمل امانة عمان اواخر كانون اول من العام الحالي اعمال الحزمة الاولى الانشائية لمشروع الباص السريع التي تنفذها على مقطعين في شارع الملكة رانيا بطول 2200 متر طولي ، الاول من اشارة الدوريات الخارجية وحتى مسجد الجامعة الاردنية ،والثاني من فندق الارينا وحتى نفق الصحافة.

وسينفذ مشروع الباص السريع على 3 محاور رئيسية في عمان وبطول 32 كيلومترا, المحور الأول من دوار صويلح وينتهي في المحطة مرورا بالجامعة الأردنية والمدينة الرياضية وشارع الشهيد والاستقلال.فيما يبدأ المحور الثاني من متحف الأردن قرب مبنى الأمانة في رأس العين وينتهي في المدينة الرياضية مروراً بشارع الأميرة بسمة والدوار الخامس.أما المحور الثالث فيبدأ من المحطة وينتهي عند دوار الجمرك مروراً بشارع اليرموك وميدان الشرق الأوسط.

وكان رئيس الوزراء سمير الرفاعي وضع في شهر تموز الماضي حجر الاساس لمشروع (الباص السريع) الذي سيعتمد على تخصيص مسارب خاصة للباصات لا تستخدمه وسائط النقل الاخرى او المركبات لضمان سرعة الوصول والتنقل من محطة الى اخرى مما يحقق التزامها في الوقت المحدد بين الرحلة والاخرى وخدمة سريعة وآمنة وذات إعتمادية عالية.

ويشمل مشروع الباصات عالية التردد حافلات ذات سعة عالية تسير على مسارب مخصّصة وبمواعيد ثابتة ومستوى عال من الخدمات, ومحطات حديثة تسهّل على المستخدم الانتقال بين وسائط النقل العام المختلفة, ويتميز بطاقة استيعابية لنقل أكثر من 10 آلاف راكب في الساعة, وحافلات مزدوجة تتسع لأكثر من 120 راكبا تسير وفق تردد أقل من ثلاث دقائق.

ويتوقع ان يستغرق اعداد وتجهيز البنية التحتية للمشروع قرابة عام ونصف العام والتي ستشمل ما يقارب من 32 كيلو مترا على طول المنطقة التي سيمر فيها مشروع الباصات السريعة.

ويهدف المشروع الى تطوير منظومة النقل العام في عمان ، وتحفيز المواطنين على استخدام وسائط النقل في ظل تزايد عدد المركبات الخاصة، لافتا ان ما بين 75-80 الف سيارة اضافية بشوارع عمان يتم ترخيصها سنويا.

وتتراوح سرعة الباصات عالية التردد ما بين 35- 50 كلم بالساعة, ويسير على مسارات خاصة بتردد مدروس, وذات سعة عالية تتكون من ثلاثة مقاطع او اثنين, وتستوعب ما بين 120-180 راكبا, ولا تتوقف الا في اماكن محددة.

'Traffic movement on Queen Rania Street expected to go back to normal soon'

By Khalid Neimat

AMMAN - The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) on Saturday said it will soon invite bids to implement the second phase of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project.

The second phase of the project will cover Princess Basma Street and the section between the University of Jordan (UJ) Mosque and the UJ Hospital, according to Ayman Smadi, director of GAM’s public transportation department.

In its ongoing construction work on Queen Rania Street, the municipality plans to focus on the designated BRT lanes, Smadi said, noting that traffic movement will consequently go back to normal on the main road.

"We are now building the blocks that separate the BRT segregated lanes from the rest of the street, and as soon as this is completed most of the work will be within the BRT path," he said.

The new system entails premium, high-capacity buses running on exclusive and completely segregated lanes, according to GAM. The bus lanes will be separated from traffic by two medians on each side, the municipality said in a previous statement.

The system includes high-quality stations and stops; express buses that can carry more than 120 passengers and will run on a three-minute frequency during peak hours along Amman’s busiest corridors; terminals and park-n-ride facilities, and an integrated fare collection system allowing passengers to pay the fare at any station before embarking on the bus. The BRT network will cover a total of 32km along three major corridors.

Under the projected plan, the first BRT will connect the suburb of Sweileh with Mahatta via the Sports City to serve UJ; the second will link the Sports City with Ras Al Ain in downtown Amman; while the third will operate between the Customs Square in Muqablain and Mahatta, Smadi noted.

According to GAM, the system is expected to be fully operational in 2012 with a capacity of about 7,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

The municipality will consider certain options to facilitate pedestrian movement in several parts of the project, including underpasses in the section frequented by UJ students, which stretches for almost three kilometres between the UJ mosque and the hospital, Smadi added.

GAM also plans to construct pedestrian bridges featuring new designs and shapes between the UJ Hospital and the Sports City Circle, he added, noting that traffic lights and several traffic solutions will be applied to ensure smooth and safe traffic movement.

3 October 2010

http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=30573

‘First phase of construction work on BRT stations completed’

By Hana Namrouqa

AMMAN - The first phase of construction work on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations on Queen Rania Street has been completed and curbs for BRT lanes have been laid, according to the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM).

With the completion of the curbs to delineate the BRT lanes, the road blocks will be removed soon and traffic on both sides of the street will revert to three lanes, according to the executive director of GAM’s transport and traffic department, Ayman Smadi.

"Construction on the medians separating the BRT lanes from the main road will be completed soonة Trees will be planted on the medians and street lamps will be installed as well," he underscored.

Smadi noted that the BRT service relies on control systems and electronic data, which requires the establishment of communication and electricity networks, as well as serving future plans for installing traffic lights and cameras.

The new system entails premium, high-capacity buses running on exclusive and completely segregated lanes separated from traffic by two medians on each side.

The BRT system includes high-quality stations and stops; express buses that can carry more than 120 passengers and will run on a three-minute frequency during peak hours along Amman’s busiest corridors; terminals and park-n-ride facilities, and an integrated fare collection system allowing passengers to pay the fare at any station before embarking on the bus.

Under the project, the first BRT will connect the suburb of Sweileh with Mahatta via the Sports City to serve the University of Jordan; the second will link the Sports City with Ras Al Ain in downtown Amman; while the third will operate between the Customs Square in Muqablain and Mahatta.

The BRT network will cover a total of 32km along the three major corridors, according to GAM officials, who noted that the system is expected to be fully operational in 2012 with a capacity of about 7,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

All buses will carry the BRT brand and provide modern amenities such as air conditioning, electronic payment and information systems and low floor entry, while the initial fleet will consist of around 130-150 express buses, each with a capacity of 120-150 passengers.

22 November 2010

http://www.gerasanews.com/web/data/images/news/categories/cat_117/AMANIH0.jpg
source (http://www.gerasanews.com/web/?c=117&a=37292)