Roads & Transport Authority - News Details

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation cum President of the UAE National Olympic Committee, honoured the winners of the 10th Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport (DAST). The Award is part of the initiatives of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai aimed to motivate the public and private sectors to contribute to easing the traffic congestion and protecting the environment. 

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA and several directors of public and private entities, received HH upon arrival at the event venue, which took place at the Dubai World Trade Center. 

HH and attendees watched a movie about DAST focusing on the efforts of Dubai to conserve the environment and apply the principles of sustainable development as they shape the future and welfare of humans and embed the concept of public transport. Another movie was shown spotlighting the evolution of the Award, which is celebrating its tenth edition, and the sustained growth in a number of categories, nominations, honorees, attendees and topics discussed. 

Afterwards, HE Victor Calise, Commissioner, New York Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, delivered the following speech tackling the daily challenges faced by People of Determination in using transit means. He also touched on the lacking of roads infrastructure tailored to the use of this category, adding, “As Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, I am working tirelessly to make New York the most accessible city in the world.”

Calise was pleased with the progress made by the UAE in improving the quality of life for People of Determination and the commitment of the Dubai Executive Council to make the city buildings and public facilities fully accessible to People of Determination by 2020.  “When I previously visited Dubai in 2015 for the Dubai Inclusive Development Forum, I was very impressed with the accessibility features in your education, infrastructure, and particularly in your transportation system,” he said. He added that New York had applied the Dubai Metro model of tactile wayfinding system in New York subway stations for our low-vision residents to guide them to doors or their designated locations in the carriages. 

“In 2016, we released the first edition of Accessible NYC, an annual report on the state of people with disabilities in New York City that details the significant achievements of our office and the work that still needs to be done. To do this, we have instituted a robust group of employees as Disability Service Facilitators in all city agencies to ensure that disability access is at the forefront of everything that we do as public servants and policymakers in the city of New York,” added Calise.

 

Technological Revolution

 

By the year 2020 50%—or 6,500—of our yellow taxis will be wheelchair accessible, and our Taxi and Limousine Commission just passed new rules that will increase accessibility in our for-hire-vehicle fleet and ride-sharing services as well. We are on the cusp of a new technological revolution—one that like the Model T will profoundly change the ways people will go about their daily lives,” commented Calise.

“In preparation for our technologically-advanced future, the Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer launched its first Call for Innovations to seek new and innovative ideas in order to improve the lives of all New Yorkers, including individuals with disabilities.  New York is currently exploring ways to leverage advancements in vehicle technology so that all vehicles are accessible to everyone regardless of disability type. 

“For instance in our “smart city,” bike sharing programs will be even more accessible through tandem bikes for people who are blind or have low vision, hand cycles for folks with physical disabilities, and tricycles for individuals who are ageing or have difficulty balancing on a bicycle. 

“As for roads, we are testing raised crosswalks in our streetscape that will connect our sidewalks, while also slowing down cars and reducing traffic-related fatalities. “Smart cities will also include heating technologies that will automatically detect snow and use the steam from our already existing city grid to ensure that our sidewalks are always clear—eliminating the dreaded commute facing so many people with disabilities during inclement weather. We are also continually working to expand the installation of accessible pedestrian signals on our streets and develop tactile maps that will provide additional information to pedestrians with disabilities,” he further added.

 

Winners Celebrated

 

HH, flanked by Al Tayer, then honoured the winners of various categories of the Award. 

Al Futtaim Engineering & Technologies won the Mobility Management category for Excellence in Mobility Management Initiative. The initiative, which combines activities and optimal organization, contributed to reducing the number of vehicles used from 400 to 360 vehicles, and reduced fuel consumption as well as harmful emissions.  Study World Higher Education Services FZ LLC - was the runner-up for its initiative: Managing Mobility through Effective Planning & Excellent Service. The Dubai Police GHQ finished third for its initiative: Mobility through Privatization. 

In the Safety Category, Gulf Pinnacle Transport was the winner for its project: Integrated Model of Safety & Smart Services. It involved the establishment of a centre for risks management and tackling key elements of transport safety, resulting in zero accidents in 200 daily trips lifting 7000 passengers. The Arabia Taxi finished second for its Violations and Accidents-Free Campaign, and Al Otaiba General Transport LLC was third for its initiative: Safe, Accident-Free Driving. 

 

Environment

 

HH awarded ENOC Retail for winning the Environment Conservation Award in the category of Environment Conservation for its project: Sustainable and Smart Fuel Stations to Protect the Environment. The Project comprises four sustainability-based initiatives. It develops a new concept in building and operating refuelling stations with a view to reducing carbon footprint and harmful emissions. The project is expected to produce 193 megawatts through optical cells. It also includes the installation of a system for controlling and recovering volatile emissions and gases supported by passive cooling technology; which is expected to generate 35,000 litres of fuel p.a. It will also reduce power consumption through using LED lights and the installation of variable speed pumps. Emirates Transport came second for its project of converting diesel-powered buses into CNG-powered buses. DP World finished third for its smart initiative targeting trucks fleet at Containers Terminal. 

In the People of Determination category, the Integrated Transport Center in Abu Dhabi was the winner for its smart debit card project; which contributed to providing safe and smooth transport for the People of Determination. It also offered them reasonable discounts and generated detailed statistics about the number of beneficiaries. It also contributed to training drivers on transporting people of determination and offered smart vehicle booking service. The Social Services Department in Sharjah was the runner-up for its Mobile Medical Clinic initiative for seniors and people of determination.

 

Media Coverage

HH also decorated the winners of the Special Awards. Journalist Angel Tesorero from Khaleej Times daily won the Best Journalist Award for his efforts in encouraging public transport, conserving the environment and improving the safety of public transport. 

In the Best Academic Research category, Dr. Khawlah Al Kaabi, From UAE University, was the winner for her research: Examining Behavioral Choices of Passengers Heading to Dubai International Airport. Mohammed Ali Khalil, Khalid Hamad and Abdallah Shanableh from University of Sharjah shared the second position for their research of using non-conventional technologies in modelling road noise.  Dr. Young-Ji Byon from Khalifa University finished third for a research about estimating the real-time of mobility through using AI and GIS applications in Dubai. 

In the Best Students Project, the winner was Rahul Vijay from Manipal University for designing technological braking system to avoid accidents. The runner-ups were Sultan Ahmed Ali, Omar Ismail Ibrahim, Mohammed Ahmed Mosa, and Saeed Abdul Nasir from the Applied Technology High School for designing a Smart Helmet for Motorcyclists. The third finisher was Mohammed Shajhan from Manipal University for the design and maintenance of a hydroelectric motor. 

HH also felicitated members of the Judges Panel headed by Hamdan Al Shaa’er, as well as the sponsors of the 10th DAST namely Dubai Municipality, DEWA, Azizi Properties, Etihad Rail, Cars Taxi, Dubai Driving Center, and Galadari Driving Center.