New metro-linked bus station opens in Dubai

The Oud Metha terminus has space to park 350 vehicles and can handle 10,000 passengers daily

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  A new bus station has been opened at Oud Metha in Dubai by the Roads and Transport Authority that will handle 10,000 passengers. Courtesy: RTA

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  The Roads and Transport Authority opens a model bus station in Oud Metha in Dubai near the metro station that will include a multi-level car park, taxi parking slots and areas for commuters to be picked up and dropped off. Courtesy: RTA

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  The Roads and Tranport Authority opens a bus station in Oud Metha that has slots to park 350 vehicles as part of the transport authority's aim to encourage more people to use public transport. Courtesy: RTA

A new bus station near the Oud Metha Metro stop in Dubai is now open.

The Roads and Transport Authority expects 10,000 passengers to use the facility each day in what is a densely populated neighbourhood busy with schools, community clubs and businesses.

The RTA described it as a model station, as it includes parking for 350 vehicles and will serve 40 buses operating on eight routes across Dubai.

The station is 300 metres from Oud Metha Metro station, where taxis are available.

The multi-level parking has 23 bicycle racks, nine parking places for buses, 11 spots for out-of-service buses, taxi stands and zones for picking up and dropping off passengers.

“The construction of stations for public bus riders complements the efforts of RTA to upgrade public transport infrastructure and encourages people to use public transit in their daily movement,” said Mattar Al Tayer, the RTA’s director general.

“The role of the new station goes beyond the prevailing concept of commuting passengers to encompass the offer of integrated services to passengers such as car parks, bike racks and the integration with the metro and taxi services.”

The bus station also includes parking for emergency buses, rest areas for the public and drivers, a cafe, prayer rooms and retail outlets.

Oud Metha joins bus stations at Al Ghubaiba, Union, Etisalat and Al Jaliyah.

The Al Ghubaiba bus station serves the largest number of passengers per day at 15,000.

One of the objectives of transport chiefs in Dubai is to encourage more people to use the metro and buses and to integrate mass transit services.

The RTA along with the Dubai Taxi Corporation recently launched a bus rental service to transport employees, with Dubai Municipality, Dubai Health Agency and Air Arabia  among the first organisations to confirm they would use the service.

About 45 buses are in operation as part of the initiative.

Dubai metro stations: in pictures

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  The Expo 2020 metro station will initially be used by employees and other eligible travellers to the site of the world fair. Courtesy Dubai RTA

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  A look at two new stations that will open up in June on the Expo 2020 Metro Red Line. Courtesy: Dubai RTA

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  View of the newly completed Discovery Gardens metro station in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Al Furjan metro station in Dubai. Route 2020 will open to the public in January. The extension of the Red Line includes seven new stations, including Al Furjan. Pawan Singh / The National

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  The elevated line can be seen at Al Furjan metro station. Route 2020, which connects the city with the Expo site, has been under construction for the past four years. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Discovery Gardens metro station is one of the seven stations on the new route leading to the Expo 2020 sites. Pawan Singh / The National

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  An estimated 270,000 live in the Discovery Gardens, Jebel Ali, Al Furjan and Jumeirah Golf Estate areas. Pawan Singh / The National

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  A metro train passes a residential building in Al Furjan, Dubai. Residents of the area say they are looking forward to using the new transport link. Pawan Singh / The National

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  The extension to the line should mean fewer people will rely on private cars or taxis to get around. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Workers put finishing touches on Al Furjan metro station. The station is one of seven on Route 2020. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Workers at the Discovery Gardens metro station. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Construction on the metro stations has been under way for the past four years. Pawan Singh / The National