Which will run at eight locations in the emirate…

After a visit to RTA headquarters, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister has shared plans for the development of an autonomous, eco-friendly  ‘Trackless Tram’.

The transit system is just one of “22 major projects” with a Dhs16 billion Main Roads Development Plan 2024-2027.

One way traffic

Part of the need for action comes from the fact we’ve seen a big increase in the amount of vehicles on the road. It’s been calculated that the number of vehicles in Dubai through the daytime is up to 3.5 million, with a massive 10 per cent increase in vehicles over the past two years. Whilst this is considerably higher than the global average growth for urban centres, Dubai has been managing that traffic well according to the global journey time index.

The 2023 TomTom Global Traffic Index has Dubai scoring a journey time of 12 minutes and 50 seconds for a 10km commute in the city centre. That’s lower than almost 17 minutes in Singapore, 19 minutes in Montreal, 21 minutes in Sydney, 22 minutes in Berlin, and 36 minutes in London.

Super tram

But what about this autonomous trackless tram?

The important numbers are: it will be rolled out in eight locations across the emirate; each electric tram will have three carriages and a load capacity of 300 passengers; it will operate on a virtual guided track system, have lower operational costs and be economically friendly; its top speed will be 70kph; and it’ll be on time – the existing tram that loops around Dubai Marina and beyond has a 99.9 percent punctuality rating.

Taking the high road

Other projects under the Main Roads Development Plan include work on the Latifa bint Hamdan Street, with work set to begin next year. It’s a 12km undertaking stretching from the Al Khail Road to Emirates Road. It’ll increase road capacity for around 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions and should cut travel times by 15 to 20 per cent.

There’s also the Meydan Road development project, adding capacity for 22,000 vehicles per hour in both directions. The Trade Centre Roundabout will be getting an imaginative reboot with the aim of reducing transit times to just 90 seconds.

There are scheduled works for Umm Suqeim and Al Qudra Streets, an Al Fay Street Development Project, and an Al Safa Street development project which should have a huge impact on congestion around CIty Walk.

Future travel

Elsewhere Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed also reviewed projects connected with AI and smart mobility; blueprints to extpand Bus and Taxi Lanes in 2025 and 2026 with the goal of reducing bus travel times by 41 percent. They’re also to help the Self-Driving Transport Strategy 2030.

Re: Cycling

If you’re a fan of getting on your bike – there’s more good news with a strategy to link up routes from the coast to inland areas. This will mean cycling tacks in Jumeirah, Al Sufouh, and Marina will have direct connections with routes in Al Qudra, Saih Al Salam, and Nad Al Sheba via Al Barsha and Dubai Hills.

Images: Getty