Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a contract for constructing two bus stations at Oud Metha and Al Satwa, featuring parking spaces, pick-up and drop-off points, retail outlets, restaurants and offices.

“The construction of stations for public bus riders complements RTA’s efforts for upgrading public transport infrastructure and encouraging people to use public transit means in their daily movement. The new stations boast a unique design that blends innovative engineering designs with new concepts of public transport,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of RTA.

“The state-of-the-art design caters to the needs of sustainability and people of determination, yet it is coherent with the identity and shape of RTA’s stations. The mission of the new stations goes beyond the prevailing concept of commuting passengers to encompass the offering of integrated services for passengers such as retail outlets, service points, offices and others,” he added.

Oud Metha Station spans an area of 9640 sq m. It is characterised by a location of high population density as it is in close proximity to Oud Metha Metro Station, schools, community clubs and offices. The station serves numerous bus routes including routes incoming from Dubai Academic City and the International City. The station building comprises a ground floor and two floors in addition to a rooftop car parking.

The design of the station befits the public transit systems in the area. It has parking spaces for buses, private vehicles and taxis. The average number of riders using the station is expected to be 10,000 riders per day. The station has 10 operational parking for buses, 20 parking slots for out-of-service buses, and 316 parking for vehicles.

The station has a pick-up and drop-off point, parking for waiting/standby buses, and parking spaces for taxis, employees, visitors as well as bike racks. The facilities also include air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned shelters, furnished public rest houses, prayer rooms for men and women, staff offices, public toilets and a children’s corner. The station also hosts self-service kiosks, nol card machines, bus information display panel, customer’s happiness’ index, ATMs, refreshment and snacks vending machines.

Al Satwa station covers an area of 11,912 sq m and comprises a ground-plus-one floor, and rooftop parking. The design of the station is tailored to the nature of public transit means in the area. It has a parking space for buses, taxis and private vehicles. The station has a capacity to accommodate 7,800 passengers per day, which is expandable in future to 15,000 passengers per day. The station has 15 operational parking for buses, 20 parking slots for out-of-service buses, and 227 parking for vehicles.

The station has a pick-up and drop-off point, parking for waiting and standby buses, parking for taxis, staff and visitors as well as bike racks. It also has public rest houses fitted with prayer rooms for men and women, staff offices, public toilets and investment areas. The station also host self-service kiosks, nol card machines, bus information display panels, customers happiness’ index, ATMs, refreshment and snacks vending machines.

RTA has recently started the development of 17 bus stations/stops and a depot to host buses at Al Quoz to meet the needs of Expo 2020 and ensure safe and smooth transport for visitors. Bus stations will be integrated with the Dubai bus network after the end of Expo. – TradeArabia News Service