AMMAN -- Transport experts from more than 50 Arab and foreign countries convened here Thursday to promote the development of public transportation in the region.
Participants at the two-day conference, organised by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), will discuss several transport-related issues including public transportation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), transportation during mass events, such as the Hajj, and cooperation between public transportation companies across the world, among others.
Public Transport Regulatory Commission (PTRC) Director Mohammad Hamed told The Jordan Times that holding the event, the first of its kind in the Middle East, was in appreciation of Jordan's experience in developing the public transport system, which he said is considered a role model in the MENA region.
"The event is important because there is a separate session devoted solely to the issue of public transportation in the MENA region," Hamed said.
"The PTRC has set a long-term plan that seeks to create a safe, modern, efficient and environment-friendly public transport system," he added.
During yesterday's meeting, the Kingdom gave a presentation on the role of public transportation and the strategic investments made in this field.
Addressing the conference, UITP Secretary General Hans Rat said discussions would "cover the situation of public transport in the Middle East, public transport's environmental advantages and how more youth can be attracted to use public transport."
"Jordan is a vibrant country and Amman in particular is a booming city, which like all booming cities needs a strong public transport system to maintain the city's quality of life and sustainability," he added, lauding the public transport sector in the Kingdom.
"Continued investment in a good public transport system will counter rising congestion and pollution and sustain the economic development of the city," the UITP official concluded.
UITP is the worldwide network of public transport professionals, representing over 2,700 urban, local, regional and national mobility actors from more than 80 countries on all continents.
The association covers all modes of public transport -- metro, bus, light rail, regional and suburban railways, and waterborne transport -- and acts as the point of reference and a centre of best practices for the public transport sector.
UITP gathers and monitors public transport statistics and mobility indicators, and acts as knowledge hub on past and current developments and future trends.
By Mohammad Ghazal
© Jordan Times 2005
