Sunday, 25 October, 2009

Press release courtesy of WAM WAM Dubai, Oct 23rd, 2009 (WAM)--Roads &Transport Authority, The Public Transport Agency at Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Australian University of Wollongong in Dubai. The MoU provides for the Agency to act as a consultant to the University in working out a plan to deploy buses for commuting its employees and students to and from their homes, on the same lines of Awselni service launched by the RTA for commuting its employees. The MoU was signed on behalf of the RTA by Mohammed Abu Baker Al Hashemi, Director of Planning & Business Development Department at the Agency, deputing for the CEO of Public Transport Agency by Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari, and on behalf of the University of Wollongong by Prof. Rob Whelan, President of the University. Signing of the MoU, which took place at RTA Public Transport Agency in Muhaisnah, was attended by several directors and officials of the Agency, in addition to Mr. Raymi van der Spek Vice-President of the University (Administration), and Dr. Parkash Vel, a lecturer at the University. "By signing this MoU, Public Transport Agency will work with the Aussie University to realise several strategic objectives & goals through carrying out studies and field surveys to identify the mobility difficulties encountered by its employees & students on daily basis, and the two parties will also work to minimise car usage by students and employees in commuting from and to the university by encouraging them to adopt car-pooling in their daily travels, and increase car occupancy rates through highlighting the benefits of car-pooling system" continued Al Hashemi. "Public Transport Agency will work with the University of Wollongong to develop joint mobility management programmes with the aim of providing mass transit services for the employees and students of the University and encourage them to use alternative transport modes other than private vehicles. The two parties will also work to minimise car usage by students and employees in commuting from and to the university by encouraging them to adopt car-pooling in their daily travels, and increase car occupancy rates through highlighting the benefits of car-pooling system" continued Al Hashemi. In the same context, he said that deployment of exclusive buses for transporting employees from and to their places of work would greatly cut the number of private vehicles on Dubai roads. "We will study how to ease the procedures of registering employee commuter buses of our strategic partners within RTA system. We will also offer tips for optimizing the parking space near work places to meet the requirements of companies and organizations, and ease the traffic congestion in the locality as a result of the daily movement of employee and visitor cars". Al Hashemi concluded: "Public Transport Agency is launching joint awareness campaigns to educate employees of various companies and organizations on the negative im pact of n the traffic movement in general and the environment & community in particular". For his part, Whelan hailed the Agreement describing it as another initiative of vital importance from the RTA. He said that the Agreement would enhance the joint cooperation and strategic partnership between Public Transport Agency and the Australian University of Wollongong. Besides that it lays the foundation for new bilateral links to broaden & develop mass transportation in the emirate of Dubai. He added: "We are always happy to support RTA initiatives to streamline traffic flow and ease traffic congestion in the emirate of Dubai. We, at the management of University of Wollongong, will seek to raise the awareness of the importance of these initiatives, and naturally hope they will be of benefit to residents, visitors, tourists and businessmen in the emirate. "Through this MoU, we will share views and proposals with the RTA and seek to promote the public awareness of RTA Management programs, which were unveiled by Public Transport Agency after a comprehensive field studies and site surveys" concluded Rob Whelan.