Abu Dhabi is taking major strides towards minimising the impact of transport on the environment by introducing cleaner vehicles, energy efficient street and traffic lights, and encouraging the use of public transport.
Last year 87 per cent of the emirate’s buses achieved Euro 4 standard, which signifies the efficient use of diesel fuel, the 2013 sustainability report of the Department of Transport said.
Taxi regulator TransAD converted 26.5 per cent of its taxi fleet last year to use compressed natural gas and hybrid technologies.
The new airport taxis run on green diesel fuel while Cars Taxi introduced low-emission hybrid taxis to Abu Dhabi in September.
“The DoT has clearly shown through the updating of its systems and technologies that it’s on a path towards better energy efficiency,” said Glenn Havinoviski, a transport expert in Abu Dhabi.
Hundreds of traffic counting devices powered by solar energy were deployed in Abu Dhabi, while traditional traffic signal lamps in Abu Dhabi city have been replaced with LED signal heads.
Work on the first environment-friendly road in the Middle East will begin in the first quarter of next year.
The 5 km pilot project linking the existing Abu Dhabi to Dubai main road (E11) to the new main road between the emirates (E311) will use technologies to lower carbon emissions.
Street lights will be powered by renewable energy while building material will consist of recycled asphalt, concrete aggregates and scrap rubber tyres.
A park-and-ride scheme was launched in January to allow commuters to leave their vehicles at Zayed Sports City and take special shuttle buses to all parts of Abu Dhabi Island. The aim is to ease congestion and reduce the amount of pollution and environmental damage caused by a number of cars on Abu Dhabi's roads.
However, it appears to have had a few takers. Only six to nine commuters a day use the facility, said a staff member at the ticket booth.
Commuters in most cases may already have some place to park at their destination, Mr Havinoviski said.
“In other cases it takes more time for them to get to the park-and-ride and wait for the bus to take them to their destination than it does just to drive directly there,” he said. “Most people are not psychologically used to being ‘multimodal’.”
Park-and-ride lots could be located in other areas including the Al Shahama main road (E10) and in other areas, he said.
“The key to using public transport is always going to be whether it provides a more cost-effective service that is the same as, or better than, driving.”
The DoT has made public transport a key part of its plans for growth by easing traffic congestion and making payment schemes more efficient and convenient.
“Such initiatives should be applauded,” said Thomas Edelmann, founder of Road Safety UAE.
“Moving individual traffic to public transport will further improve both road safety and the ecological footprint.”
But public transport has to be faster, more reliable and more attractive than driving, Mr Havinoviski said.
“Families with children represent a significant part of Abu Dhabi’s travelling public,” he said.
“There is probably less benefit in trying to get them to change their travelling habits than the individual commuter or traveller.”
The DoT did not respond to a request for comment.
rruiz@thenational.ae
