The head of the structural plan committee in the municipal council, Eng. Sharifa Al-Shalfan stressed the importance of expediting the implementation of the rapid bus and mass transportation project within the framework of the fourth structural plan of the country, given the many economic, social, environmental and health benefits resulting from its completion.
Al-Shalfan said in a press statement, after chairing the committee meeting on Monday, during which she discussed the express bus and mass transit project, that this project should not be considered an engineering project for transportation only, but rather a structural element within the structural plan for urban development, and contribute to raising the quality of life for the population, reports Al-Qabas daily.
She also called on all concerned parties to cooperate to get it done as quickly as possible and emphasized that the project could play a major role in reviving urban areas and establishing more sustainable economic, environmental and social development projects based on public transportation hubs.
She noted that reviving urban areas and development projects directed by public transportation requires a clear vision of urban public spaces, and a set of policies.
She warned of the great damage resulting from the continued traffic congestion in the country, especially on the economic field, and the cohesion of the urban environment, in light of the rapid growth of cities that we are witnessing in all governorates, noting that most countries have realized the need to give priority to investment in public transportation, such as Express buses and mass transportation, instead of using personal vehicles, due to the many advantages of public transport, including providing a large capacity to transport people, reducing traffic congestion, increasing road safety rates, improving the health of community members, in addition to improving air quality.
Al-Shalfan said that among the appropriate proposals to reduce traffic congestion is to improve bus services, rely on transportation, allocate special lanes for them, give them priority to pass at road junctions and traffic congestion points, provide suitable parking for them, and provide passengers with accurate information about their routes.
Committee member Eng Alia Al-Farsi said that the transportation strategy is considered one of the most important technical reports of the Fourth Structural Plan 2040, as the technical report includes many studies and a compilation of information, advice and observations related to transportation affairs.
The demand for transportation has a direct relationship with the majority of the strategies presented by the organization chart consultant for the fourth organization.
Al-Farsi indicated that the consultant talked about the technical report on transport in general through the development of the system and the enactment of laws to regulate all transportation systems, saying diversity in transportation means green transportation systems free of carbon emissions, and better planning for transportation that reduces traffic congestion and thus less pollution.