Cabinet taskforce looking into improvement to transport system

AMMAN — Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Monday urged the concerned agencies to diagnose and suggest solutions to the absence of an efficient urban transportation system.

Chairing a meeting of the ministerial economic team at the Prime Ministry, Razzaz called for accelerating procedures to approve the draft by-law of the school transport system, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The system has to be safe and offered at a reasonable cost, he added.

Studies have indicated that Jordan’s transportation system has problems related to varying degrees, with accessibility, mobility, productivity, punctuality, waiting time and comfort.

Razzaz’ government has announced that improvements to the transport system are included in its 100-day challenge.

The premier stressed the government’s commitment to taking the necessary measures to improve the quality of public services provided to citizens, especially those related to peoples’ daily life such as education, health and transport.

He noted that His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday stressed that the government has to provide the “best” services to citizens, pointing out that the transport sector has not been given enough attention.

The PM asserted the importance of monitoring public transport means and ensuring their commitment to safety standards, as well as collecting feedback from commuters.

Minister of Transport and Minister of Municipal Affairs Walid Masri briefed the team on the ministry’s plans and projects to improve the sector.

Masri noted that the ministry will focus on mass public transport and mega logistic projects to stimulate economy.    

For his part, Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh announced that the Greater Amman Municipality will establish a new transportation company with modern buses that accept electronic payment.

Land Transport Regulatory Commission Director General Salah Louzi outlined the challenges that face the sector including shortage of public transport means, sharing private vehicles for fare, individual ownership, the operational age of vehicles, the arbitrary design of routes and the lack of sustainability in providing services.

Secretary General of the Transport Ministry Anmar Khasawneh also briefed the team on the Urban Transport Project, whose study will be finalised in 2019.

The project, funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, aims to restructure the transport network and operators in Irbid, Zarqa, Madaba and Salt.

The meeting also covered the Amman-Zarqa Bus Rapid Transit which infrastructure works will cost JD120 million.

In a related development, the Cabinet on Monday okayed the draft of a memorandum of understanding the Transport Ministry plans to sign with a Chinese company regarding a railway network in the Kingdom, Petra reported, without giving details about the identity of the company or the project, other than it would connect Jordanian cities, and the Kingdom with neighbouring countries.