Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) continues construction works within the first phase of its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project which commenced in June 2010.
The first phase of the project include 2200 m long in two sections in Queen Rania street; the first from nearby Sweileh to the University of Jordan Mosque, and the second in the area between Al-Arina Hotel and the Sahafa Tunnel.
GAM's Transport and Traffic Management Director, Dr Ayman Al-Smadi said that all construction works will be completed this December, according to the time table set by GAM with the contractors.
Moreover, Smadi stressed that the construction works carried out by GAM included excavations, settling the location and removing poles and trees from the median. In addition, the Municipality has set up service lines below the street level including a rain water draining line dedicated to the BRT lane. GAM also worked on fixing and maintaining the current service lines through lowering the level of sewage and rain water drainage lines.
Smadi also revealed that GAM is going to finish up street furnishing, which it commenced this month, by the end of September; the Municipality is currently working on the first phase of installing street furnishings.
According to Smadi, the upcoming stages of the project include setting up sidewalks at the street and putting up lighting units, plant basins, and the final layer of street pavements. GAM will be launching a number of construction phases for the project at
Princess Basma, Al-Shahid and Al-Aqsa streets within its plan to carry on with infrastructure work in two years.
The completed construction work makes up 15% from the required work for the first stage of the project.
BRT is considered to be an essential part of the Municipality's metropolitan scheme aiming at rehabilitating the public transportation system in the capital to ensure its improvement and development in terms of services provided to people.
Furthermore, GAM's persevering work on BRT aims at providing citizens with fast, safe, highly dependable public transportation services.
Smadi highlighted that the BRT will provide transportation services that are to cut back on the use of private cars, noting that the rapid buses capacity in the opening year, is estimated at 6500-7000 passengers an hour.
GAM aims at developing public transportation matrix in Amman in order to encourage residents to use public transportation means rather than private cars, as the number of the latter is soaring; Smadi noted that around 75000-80000 additional cars are being licensed annually.
The speed of the rapid buses ranges between 35 to 50 km per hour; they will use specific lanes with well studied frequencies allowing a high capacity of 120- 180 passengers each.
Rapid Buses are distinguished by an electronic propelling system, time arrival information system, high-quality stations and stops, terminals and park-n-ride facilities for users to move between different public transportation means easily.
The 32 km long BRT project will be implemented on three main routes in Amman; the first from Sweileh Circle to Al-Mahatta via the University of Jordan, Sports City, Al-Shahid and Al-Istiqlal streets; the second will link Ras El-Ein with Sports City via Princess Basma street and the Fifth Circle, while the third will operate between Al-Mahatta and Customs Square via Al-Yarmouk street and Middle East square.
BRT service is the cornerstone to a modern metropolitan transportation system in Amman which will mainly revolve around developing the BRT and Metro systems in the near future. GAM is working to improve and develop the current public transportation services with modern buses and up to date street furnishings.
