Dubai: RTA Unveils Major Enhancements Around 37 Schools, Cutting Arrival Times By Up to 20%

In 2024, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has enhanced eight areas around schools across the emirate, positively impacting 37 educational institutions.

These efforts have yielded significant results, reducing school arrival times by 15% to 20%. This improvement reflects RTA's dedication to enhancing traffic flow and road capacity, which is crucial for accommodating Dubai's rapid urban expansion. Al Banna remarked on the success of these initiatives, emphasizing their role in bolstering Dubai's infrastructure and ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents.

This move is a segment of a larger scheme aimed at boosting the efficiency of the road network, especially around schools, to keep pace with the city's swift urban growth. It targets benefiting various road users, including educational staff, bus drivers, and students’ families, by ensuring their safety on Dubai's roads.

Hussain Al Banna, CEO of the Traffic and Roads Agency at RTA, highlighted the significance of these improvements, stating, "These traffic improvements have not only enhanced the road network but also upheld the quality and efficiency of Dubai's infrastructure. They reflect RTA's commitment to fulfilling leadership directives and meeting the needs of Dubai's expanding population and urban development.

"Through continuous infrastructure advancements, RTA supports the emirate's sustainable growth and works to enhance the happiness and well-being of residents, positioning Dubai as the best city to live in." This statement underscores RTA's dedication to improving road safety and capacity, aligning with Dubai's urban development goals.

"RTA worked closely with the Dubai Police General Headquarters, real estate developers, and relevant school authorities to study traffic impacts, identify solutions, and promptly implement improvements. These measures are continuously monitored through periodic assessments to ensure their long-term effectiveness, playing a critical role in maintaining smooth traffic flow, enhancing road capacity, and ensuring the safety of all road users."

The scope of work encompassed various strategic locations, such as Kings' School Dubai on Umm Suqeim Street, The International School of Choueifat and Dubai College on Hessa Street, and several school complexes in Al Safa, Al Warqa 4, Al Qusais, Al Mizhar, Nad Al Sheba, and Al Tawar. These enhancements aimed to make the roads leading to these schools wider, add more parking for staff and parents, improve entrances and exits, and manage traffic flow in the surrounding areas. Additional efforts included paving parking spaces near schools and creating safe zones for student drop-off and pick-up.

Looking ahead, RTA plans to extend its traffic improvement initiatives to over 13 schools in vital areas like Al Garhoud, Al Barsha 1, Al Warqa, and Al Barsha South by early 2025. Part of this future strategy involves developing an operational plan to manage traffic flow efficiently, aiming to reduce congestion and further improve travel times for those attending school.

"RTA will continue implementing traffic solutions in school zones as part of its integrated and regularly updated strategic plan. In early 2025, these efforts will expand to include over 13 schools in key areas such as Al Garhoud, Al Barsha 1, Al Warqa, and Al Barsha South. Additionally, an operational plan will be developed to manage traffic flow in these areas, reducing congestion and further improving travel times for school goers," concluded Al Banna.