GAM to launch trial run of second route of BRT next July — mayor

AMMAN — Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh on Tuesday said that the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) will launch the trial run of the second route of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) next July, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During a regional workshop organised by the World Bank Group, he said that the BRT currently transports 11,000 passengers on a daily basis.

Shawarbeh stressed that GAM is working on rendering Amman a green and smart city through the launch of smart transportation systems.

He added that the BRT project will be completed next September, with the operation of 286 buses, revealing that GAM will launch its five-year strategic plan next week.

There is a 10-year public transport plan aiming to improve infrastructure, including streets and sidewalks, to reach an integrated public transport system, he said.

No work permit will be given to any building responsible for planting trees on its adjacent sidewalk, he noted, adding that sidewalks are allocated for pedestrians to pass safely. 

A report issued by the World Bank Group consisted of a number of recommendations to enhance transport including implementing an open ticket protocol, fleet management and user information, and developing a national public safety plan.

The report also recommended devising plans for pedestrians and cycling, urban renewal, tariff and operations integration, in addition to a traffic demand management programme including parking management, restricting the use of cars and imposing congestion fees.

The workshop aims to highlight the main challenges related to public transport in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq, shedding light on emerging opportunities to strengthen public transport systems in these countries based on international experience.