DUBAI | Public Transport

[malec]

Think it’s time to make a thread dedicated to (very needed) public transport in Dubai since the lightrail system is well under construction now. There are a few different things being done but anyway, might aswell start with what’s probably the most important megaproject in this city, the dubai metro.


At the moment there are 2 lines being built (the one on the map below) and aswell there’s another under study that’ll link the current airport and the future one and will also link all new projects going up there. Here’s the map:




Some pics of the trains (don’t know if they’re going to look exactly like this)






Bur Juman Station:








Trade Centre Station:




Union Square:




Some concept designs:








And another station




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Aswell as the main metro lines there are some more, smaller systems being built as part of megaprojects. An example is the palm jumeirah with a monorail running from the top down to a station where the red line goes.




Other projects like al bawadi, airport city, and business bay have such proposed lines. Since the other palms are bigger than palm jumeirah I’d assume something similar will be done on those aswell.


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Air conditioned bus stops are being built in order to encourage more people to use buses in a place where temperatures can top 50 degrees.

Originally Posted by news

H.E Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) today, launched the prototype of the world’s first air-conditioned bus shelter in Dubai.

The futuristically-designed, crescent shaped shelters will have a contemporary metallic finish and sliding doors. Over a period of 18 months, more than 500 such bus shelters will be built all across Dubai. The ultramodern bus shelters will have a range of facilities such as ATMs and vending machines for newspapers, snacks and soft drinks. Further, garbage will be collected in three recycling units outside the shelters for paper, glass and metal.

Speaking at the occasion, H.E Mattar Al Tayer said, “The launch of this prototype is a sign of things to come, as RTA continues its commitment to transform Dubai’s public transport infrastructure. We want to make sure that an increasing number of Dubai’s residents are using the public transport system, which will in turn ease the flow of traffic on our roads. The provision of high quality air-conditioned bus shelters will not only go a long way in achieving this objective, it will also complement Dubai’s rapid pace of development and progress.”

The AED 17.5 million per annum contract for constructing the bus shelters has been awarded to Right Angle Media on the Build-Operate-and Transfer (BOT) basis for ten years. Right Angle Media will be investing in the project for the construction and maintenance of the shelters, for which RTA will make an annual payment of AED 17.5 million. The total construction cost will amount to 35.75 million, while the maintenance costs will be AED 3.5 million per annum.

Abdul Aziz Malik, Director of Public Transport said, "The air-conditioned bus shelters have been designed keeping the comfort and requirements of commuters in mind. Waiting for buses in the scorching heat can be hard and tiring for the people, and these modern bus shelters with an array of amenities will prove extremely beneficial to the large number of commuters. We will be making an investment of over AED 210 million over the coming decade in this project, and we hope to see more and more people to travel by bus.

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Lots more stuff including water taxis, bridges, roads, etc coming over the next few years. A nice article about all this here:

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles.../10022861.html

[malec]

Some more details on the metro from here

http://vgn.dm.gov.ae/DMEGOV/dm-mp-metro



An Integrated Public Transit Network

The Metro network will be fully integrated within the overall Public Transit network operated by the Dubai Municipality Public Transport Department. Bus routes and stops will be organised around the backbone provided by the rail system, extending its reach into all communities in Dubai. Taxi stations and Park & Ride facilities will be included in key Metro stations to further enhance the central role of the Metro System.

Fare policies and collection systems will be common to the bus and rail networks, allowing seamless travel across the Dubai Public Transit network. Fare levels will be kept accessible to all users. The use of the recently introduced 'e-go' smart card will be generalised.

The Dubai Metro will be the most advanced urban rail system and its perfect and well-planned integration in the city will contribute to the unique image of the Emirate in the world. It constitutes a major step forward its future development. The Dubai Public Transit network will become the backbone for the touristic, financial and economic growth.


http://vgn.dm.gov.ae/DMEGOV/dm-metro-network

In total, the Metro System will include 55 stations, 18 km of tunnels, 51 km of viaduct, one major train depot and maintenance facilities site and several auxiliary stabling facilities. The total fleet size will be slightly in excess of 100 trains.

[matt_sbs]

i have always wondered if the dubai city transport would keep up with the development

[crossbowman]

Originally Posted by malec

And another station

Bur Juman Station looks really fantastic!

[Frog]

Looks great, a much needed addition to Dubai

[metroreporter]

oh wow

look at those futuristic looking renders

[Krazy]

Dubai Metro project video

http://rapidshare.de/files/16213393/Rail.wmv.html


Some construction pictures...


Bur Juman station construction












Union Square

[OettingerCroat]

so the metro is NEVER at-grade right? that is, it never travels at street level, only underground or in the air? very very smart!

[Emirati_Girl]

Fantastic! Go Dubai ... but when those construction will finish exactly? i hate reading i just saw the pics

[Æsahættr]

Wow very modern

[Krazy]

Phase 1 is supposed to be finished by 2009..... the rest by 2011... also the project is being expanded constantly.. adding new lines... so we expect the construction to continue till at least 2015-2017

[Xusein]

Very nice...from what I went through when there, Dubai needs this...

Traffic in Dubai is crazy...but I sure everyone knew that...

[mrtfreak]

The Red and Green line routing somehow reminds me of Toronto's Bloor-Danforth and Yonge-University-Spadina lines. But looks like a good project. Any idea what the other lines will be like, as in, possible alignments under study? Also, is Union Square being built as one or two stations connected to each other?

Looking good Dubai.

[malec]

http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Traff.../10050722.html

Originally Posted by gulfnews

Dubai to spend Dh74b on transport system

By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter


Dubai: The Dubai Government will spend Dh74 billion to boost to its road network and public transport system.

A strategic plan was unveiled on Friday that will put in aplace modern and integrated road network and public transport system and cater to the existing and future development requirements in the emirate until 2020.

The highlight of the Dubai Strategic Plan is a multi-tier public transport system that includes expansion of Dubai Metro in addition to introducing tram services.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has reviewed the plan and has given his consent for its implementation, WAM reported.

Mattar Al Tayer, Board Chairman and Executive Director of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), briefed Shaikh Mohammad on the plan and gave detailed presentations on Dubai's transport policies until 2020 and sources of funding the project.

Of the Dh74 billion outlay, the government will spend Dh44 billion on road infrastructure and Dh30 billion for the integrated public transport system.

The plan includes construction of new roads with a total length of 500km, more than 95 new interchanges and improving the existing road network in Dubai.

Haven't heard about plans for trams before, guess we should add that to the list

[harsh1802]

Looks fantastic.

[Krazy]

I hope the news about trams is correct.. this is fantastic.. soon we'll have the metro and the monorails.. and the trams along with water taxis

[-Corey-]

Excelent!

[AltinD]

Originally Posted by malec

Haven't heard about plans for trams before, guess we should add that to the list

Yes we have.

There's a proposal to build a tram line from Jumeirah Beach Residence, going paralel Al Soufouh Road till Medinat Jumeirah / Burj Al Arab Hotel and then turn right and join the Dubai Metro, on the Mall Of Emirates station.

[malec]

Originally Posted by the press

Dubai transportation system and road networks reviewed

DUBAI: Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has reviewed major strategic plans to develop road networks and transportation system in Dubai.

The Dubai Ruler, in the presence of Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, minister of state for cabinet affairs, watched an electronic presentation of the strategic plan, including road networks, transportation systems and proposed solutions on road networks and general planning for up to 2020. The presentation was made at the Emirates Towers Hotel by Engineer Matar Mohammed Al Tayer, board chairman and CEO of the Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA), and a number of experts in charge of the plan.

The presentation included the definition of required public transport network system which include train, metro, tram, bus and water transport systems.

It also included detailed briefing on the transport policies as part of a comprehensive solution system and sources of funding the project.

The plan was prepared by the DRTA in collaboration with international consultants highly reputed for their expertise in viable mass transport systems.

The project, which would beging from this year to 2020, include the building of new major roads with a total length of about 500 kilometres, 95 new interchanges and improving a number of existing interchanges and a major modernisation works on Dubai road network. The cost of the project is estimated at about Dhs44 billion.

Total length of the metro transport route is estimated at about 318 kilometres, 268 kilometres for the tram, 210 kilometres for the water transport and about 2,500 kilometres for the bus routes. Total cost of of this mass transport system is estimated at about Dhs30 billion.

The RTA has estimated at over Dhs74 billion the total cost of implementing this mega project, as part of Dubai Strategic Plan, within a period of 15 years.

318km for the metro is tripple the length of the red, green and proposed blue lines combined. If this project's done dubai-style then

[Krazy]

Metro rail taking shape


The pier has a diameter of 1.75 metres and a height of 7 metres. A total of 1,205 piers will be erected along the metro's Red Line by mid-2007.

Dubai: The first pier for the Dubai Metro rail has been installed on Shaikh Zayed Road between the 6th and 7th interchanges.

Its construction represents an important event for the project since it is the first structure which can be seen by residents and drivers on Shaikh Zayed Road.

The pier has a diameter of 1.75 metres and a height of 7 metres. A total of 1,205 piers will be erected along the metro's Red Line by mid-2007.

The piling work for pillars is expected to be performed at a rate of one pile per rig per day.