Cargo rail lines under study in Dubai to ease traffic congestion
Friday, 20 Feb 2009
According to a senior official, Trucks will be banned from Emirates Road from 6AM and 10PM while cargo rail lines are under study in Dubai to reduce movement of heavy trucks a leading cause of traffic congestion,
The new initiatives are part of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority's plans for massive overhauling of Dubai's traffic movement in a bid to ease congestion and reduce fatal road accidents.
RTA has joined hands with the Dubai Police Traffic Department to ensure safe and smooth vehicular movement in the city. It is conducting a comprehensive study in collaboration with the Dubai Police to find fresh solutions to burgeoning traffic congestion in the Emirate.
Mr Mattar Al Tayer chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA said that "We are developing a model plan for the movement of heavy vehicles and for building rail lines to transport cargo from the dry ports and cargo assembly points to the distribution centres.”
However, he did not reveal any details about the rail lines for the cargo shipment. Al Tayer held a meeting with Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Dubai Police's deputy commander general, to discuss the issue of heavy vehicles and speed limits on Dubai roads.
The RTA's studies also included assessment of the current trucks movement, prohibited timings and routes and the need for dedicated heavy vehicle roads, and the organizational and structural aspects related to management of trucks and cargo movement in Dubai.
Mr Al Tayer said that "Our analytical results of our studies have shown that traffic particularly on Emirates Road and generally in the city will improve considerably if the trucks are prohibited from using Emirates Roads from 6am to 10pm. Decision in this regard will be taken soon after the completion of roads linking Emirates Road and the Dubai Bypass Road.”
He said the new ban timing will cut trucks' movement by 9,000 trucks per day or 700 trucks per hour during peak hours. It will also divert more traffic to both Al Khail Road and the Bypass Road.
