Matter Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Diriba Kuma, Mayor of Addis Ababa City held talks on advancing collaboration and sharing experiences in roads, public transport and licensing systems and other related topics, Emirates News Agency reported.

Al Tayer briefed Diriba on RTA’s achievements in favoring shift from private transport to public transport modes, noting "Since established, the RTA had been endeavoring to improve public transport systems to make them the first mobility choice of people in the emirate with the aim of raising the share of public transport to 20 percent of people’s mobility by 2020. Accordingly, the share of public transport has grown from 6 percent in 2006 to 14 percent in 2014.”

"The RTA has undertaken major and vital public transport projects highlighted by the Dubai Metro, the longest driverless metro in the world, extending 75 km, the 11 km-long Dubai Tram project, a massive fleet of public buses comprising more than 1,560 vehicles, a full range of marine transit modes, and taxis. Public transport in Dubai has become vital for the daily mobility of residents and visitors and the number of public transport passengers in 2014 exceeded half a billion at a rate of 1.47 million riders per day," he explained.

Diriba Kuma on his part applauded the expeditious completion of mega-transport infrastructure projects in Dubai and hailed the integration of mass transit means. He also admired the design, high-class finishing and excellent passenger services allowed to metro and tram riders.

He said that he would be looking forward to share expertise and holding joint workshops on planning, construction and operation of transport modes and enhancing the infrastructure of roads and public transport systems.

Source: Emirates News Agency