Dubai, June 25th, 2007 (WAM) - Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board andExecutive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has announcedthe arrival of the first batch of the new articulated buses (single andbi-articulated buses).

Purchased by the RTA in a deal that includes 80 buses, 51 of which arebi-articulated buses and 29 are single articulated buses at a cost ofmore than Dh one billion.

This initiative stems as part of the integrated strategic plan developedby the RTA to revamp mass transit modes in the emirate of Dubai, witha view to lure more commuters and as such contribute to minimizing trafficbottlenecks.

"Through provision of advanced, high quality and cost-effective buseswith an extensive geographical coverage, the RTA is seeking to increasethe percentage of trips made by mass transit systems to 30% by 2020 andenhance integration between the various mass transport modes such as publicbuses, metro and marine transport," Al Tayer said.

Al Tayer inspected the buses and formally launched them. Each bi-articulatedbus can accommodate 160 passengers while the single articulated bus canhouse 110 passengers. He added that the new buses are equipped with hi-techand highest security and safety standards. The buses have been speciallydesigned to meet the requirements of people with special needs as theyhave low-floors rising only 38 cm above the ground level (compared tothe standard buses rising 100 cm above the ground which need 3 steps toboard the flat floor).

The entrance of the second door of the articulated bus has been designedwith a sliding-proof floor to assist embarkation and disembarkation fromthe bus. The entrance leads directly to the location designated for thewheel chairs of people with special needs or prams.

The Chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA stated thatthe new buses are equipped with sophisticated technological systems suchas the vocal announcement of the following stop and the name of the stop.

It has also a statistical system to count the number of bus passengersand automatically assess demand on the various bus routes. The new busesare provided with bus-positioning system linked to the Control Centerin the Agency.

He added that the buses are fitted with giant screens (240 X1900mm) onthe front part of the vehicle enabling passengers a clear and distantview of the destination of the bus, pass and route number. The buses arealso provided with three screens on the right, left and rear sides ofthe buses measuring 190X1100mm which indicate the destination of the busalong with the route number in both Arabic & Languages. The interiorsof the buses are fitted with internal display monitors at the back ofdriver's seat and behind the second and third of the articulated bus displayingthe bus stops, path and route number.

Al Tayer said that the RTA has developed a plan to revamp the publictransport buses that includes buying 620 buses at a cost exceeding onebillion dirham to be delivered in 2007 and 2008. Accordingly the numberof buses will rise to 1200 buses by 2008 including 170 double deckers,300 articulated buses, 70 ordinary standard buses, 30 airport buses and50 medium buses. He pointed out that 150 ordinary buses will be providedin December 2007 and June 2008. Moreover, 300 articulated buses will beprovided in August 2007 and June 2008 while 170 double decker buses willbe delivered in September 2007 and December 2008.

"The arrival of these buses is synchronized with the ongoing process ofconstructing air-conditioned public bus shelters in more than 500 locations.

Such shelters provide comfort and excellent services to the bus commutersparticularly in summer season. A number of services and facilities willbe provided in such shelters such as ATM, vending machines for newspapers,snacks and soft drinks. They are additionally equipped with 3 recyclingunits for paper, glass and metals." Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, CEO of Public Transport Agency toured the newbuses accompanied by journalists, media representatives and RTA officials.

The RTA team included Abdulla Yousuf Al Ali, Director of Public TransportBuses, Eng. Khalid Hashim, Director Business Planning & Development, PublicTransport Agency and Dr. Aysha Al Busmait Director of Marketing & CorporateCommunication. During the tour Al Mulla highlighted the technical specificationsand areas to be served by the new buses. He also elaborated on the intensivetraining courses to which drivers have been subjected, particularly thedrivers of the articulated and double decker buses as the buses are thefirst of their kind in the region, requiring high calibre drivers.