In an initiative unprecedented across the Middle East and North Africa, Public Transport Agency at the Dubai Roads ‘&’ Transport Authority (RTA), announced that the work team of Planning ‘&’ Business Development Department of the Agency teamed up with the GIS Section at IT Department of the RTA and Google Inc. to upload Dubai public bus stops information on the digital space of Google Earth. The move will enable public bus users in Dubai visiting Google Earth portal to check this information at any time and from any place.
“RTA is keen on capitalizing on the latest technology, including the digital space, and this recent step of providing access to public bus stops information through Google Earth will enable users to view the information, including the routes passing through these stops. They can also return to RTA portal to obtain more information about the bus routes by checking the link to RTA website displayed on Google Earth and from there to the Journey Planner (Wojhati) or else, they can access the link (Google Transit); the second option that takes the user to Wojhati” said Mohammed Abu Baker Al Hashemi, Acting CEO of Public Transport Agency and Director of Business Development Dep’t at the Agency.
“Google Transit is an exclusive term that illustrates the integration between the RTA and Google Inc. on the digital space through Google Maps. It follows that placing RTA website on a global portal as important as Google, is considered promotional vehicle to introduce the RTA to a considerable chunk of internet users across the globe. This initiative will undoubtedly contribute to facilitating prior planning of journeys on board public buses for all commuters such as residents, visitors and tourists”.
Uploading public bus stops information on Google Earth is an added service that is set to boost Wojhati initiative unleashed by Public Transport Agency in the first quarter of last year. The new initiative will certainly empower larger numbers of users worldwide to access the public bus network in the Emirate of Dubai.
“This technology aims at assisting the users of Dubai public buses with the selection of the ideal mobility method, and offering the available options as per the starting and destination points as well as journey schedules. The service also enables both residents and visitors to inquire about bus schedules and routes either through checking RTA website or Google Transit; which places Dubai at par with the highly sophisticated cities in the field of public transportation worldwide” added Al Hashemi.
“Displaying public bus mobility information on the digital space reflects our objective of providing bus users with the information that assist them with their daily life and empower them to track the best mobility routes in their daily travels,” he concluded.
