19 Million Passengers Were Transported In Q3 By RTA Sharjah

19 Million Passengers Were Transported In Q3 By RTA Sharjah. In the third quarter of 2016, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Sharjah successfully transported 19 million passengers. Abdulaziz Al Jarwan, Director of RTA Sharjah for Transport Affairs, shared the details of this achievement, highlighting significant improvements and strategic initiatives that contributed to this success.

Impressive Passenger Numbers

RTA Sharjah transported over 18,879,000 passengers via public buses and taxis in the last three months. This translates to an impressive daily average of 210,000 passengers.

Enhanced Passenger Experience

The increase in passengers can be attributed to several key factors:

1. Prepaid Sayer e-Cards: Making Sayer e-cards more readily available onboard.
2. Increased Bus Stops: Expanding the number of bus stops.
3. Efficient Plans: Implementing strategic plans for seasons, weekends, holidays, and rush hours.

These measures made it easier for passengers to inquire about bus timings and numbers by simply sending an SMS to 2722.

Significant Rise In Passenger Numbers

The number of passengers increased by 11% compared to the same period in 2015. This rise is linked to the reduced frequency and increased number of vehicles, with 97 buses operating on nine routes covering 407km of Sharjah city roads.

Performance Of Taxi Services

The four franchise taxi companies (Sharjah, Emirates, Citi, and Union Taxi) collectively operated 7,835,000 trips, transporting 15,670,000 passengers in Q3, averaging 174,000 passengers daily.

City Bus Services

City buses operated 87,561 trips, transporting 1,533,000 passengers over the same period. July recorded the highest number of passengers, with 525,813, averaging 17,000 daily passengers.

Intercity Bus Services

Intercity buses completed 82,599 trips, transporting 1,676,000 passengers, marking a 15% increase compared to the same period in 2015. This hike corresponds to 17,000 additional trips and 214,000 more passengers than in the same period the previous year.

New Intercity Routes

The introduction of two new intercity bus routes—313 from Al Rolla Square to Dubai International Airport Terminal 2 and 118 from Al Jubail to Al Ain City—contributed to the increase in passenger numbers. Additionally, seven new buses were added to the fleet.

Future Plans

To further enhance service, RTA Sharjah plans to add 11 more buses to the intercity fleet, aiming to provide more convenient shuttle services and increase public satisfaction.

Addressing Unlicensed Taxi Services

RTA Sharjah’s staff inspectors apprehended 946 drivers offering unlicensed taxi services in their private vehicles in Q3, a 15% increase from the same period in 2015. Additionally, 3,854 violations were registered against cab drivers, and 121 against bus drivers.

Call Center Performance

The SRTA call center handled 197,694 calls in the last three months, averaging 65,898 calls per month. These calls included 4,166 reports, 2,097 complaints, 1,992 lost item reports, and 77 suggestions.

Conclusion

RTA Sharjah significant achievements in passenger transportation during the third quarter of 2016 reflect its commitment to improving public transport services. By enhancing passenger experiences, expanding routes, and addressing unlicensed taxi services, RTA Sharjah continues to provide efficient and reliable transportation for its residents and visitors.