Prime Minister, Sameer Rifai, recently set the foundation stone for the projects Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), executed by Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) on Queen Rania AL Abdallah Street, and King Faisal Plaza Development in the city center.
The Prime Minister hailed the BRT project, pointing out that it is such a great achievement towards developing the public transportation system in Amman, resolving the traffic jams in the future, and saving on oil and fuel expenditures.
He considered that this project (BRT) reflects the Government’s intentions to improve public transportation of the Kingdom, and it is an example to be followed in all Jordanian cities in the future.
On Hawa Amman FM, the Prime Minister stressed on the Government’s interest in conserving the archeological sites and renovating them in all the provinces and cities of the Kingdom, and he added that Jordan represents an open museum that shall be kept and maintained.
He also emphasized on the importance of speeding up the execution process of the developmental and municipal services to serve the citizens according to set plans and within determined time schedule.
The Prime Minister was briefed, by the Mayor of Amman, Omar Maani, on the project’s goals, marking the beginning of many plans of GAM’s regarding the public transportation development in Amman, as well as the phases of implementation of the project.
Maani affirmed that the public transportation system of Amman will witness a radical change within the 4 coming years, and the citizens will sense this improvement in all public transportation elements, whether in the transportation means, the buses, the pavements, and the modern stop stations.
He added that completing the transportation projects in Amman will be a source of pride and an example to follow, embedding a new culture of the public transportation style that motivates the citizens to use it as an organized safe means, with less costs than their private vehicles.
The rehabilitation project on King Faisal Plaza aims at reviving the memories of the place, increasing the urban spaces, protecting archeological sites, bringing the city center back to life, refreshing the commercial movement, and empowering the location on touristic and historical levels.
This project is one of the most important urban spaces in Amman, historically, economically, and archeologically, and it is a complementary part of a series of projects which GAM had set for the city center, aiming at creating urban spaces for the citizens.
GAM is working on the project which needs 10 month to be completed on four phases and a time schedule that serves the public interest.
According to an in depth 18 month study of the project, GAM paid special attention to the details to bring back the glowing stations of the Jordanian political and social memory of King Faisal Plaza.
GAM already commenced the execution of the construction works of BRT project- on two sections of Queen Rania Al Abdallah Street, the first starts from Ad-Dawriyat Al Kharijiyah (highway patrols) on Yajouz intersection, and the other from the University Hospital intersection to the Sahafah (Press) tunnel.
The current construction works represent the first package of the project, and are expected to be finalized within 6 months. The other parts are to be gradually awarded to ensure rapid execution and a safe, smooth traffic movement.
BRT is a public integrated and flexible transportation; it depends on buses, provides rapid and safe service with high reliability especially that it includes buses of big capacity, working on special lanes and within fixed timing, high quality of service, and modern stations that facilitate user’s movement in different public transportation means. The capacity of the project exceeds 6,000 passengers per hour, and double deck buses that can hold up to 120 passengers, shuttling upon a frequency less than three minutes.
The project is also distinguished for its modern electronic payment system which enables users pay the fees before entering the bus, information system for the users about the arrival times of the buses, and the route planning service. Modern stations are also to be established for the vehicles.
BRT service is the cornerstone of an advanced integrated transportation network of Amman, and its main goal is to develop metro and rapid buses in the future. GAM is also looking forward to improving the current public transportation services to include modern buses and road furniture.
The BRT project is to be executed on 3 main lines in Amman with 32 km in length, the line extends from Sweileh Circle until Al Mahata (the station), passing through the University of Jordan, Sports City, Al Shaheed (Martyr) Street, and Al Esteklal Street.
The second line starts from Jordan Museum, next to GAM headquarters in Ras El Ein, and ends at the Sports City, passing through Princess Basma Street and the 5th Circle.
While the third line begins at Al Mahata and ends at Al Jumrok (Customs) Circle, passing through Yarmouk Street and the Middle East Square.
The ceremony was attended by the French Ambassador to Amman, Corinne Breuze, the Deputy Mayor, Eng. Amer Al Basheer, the City Manager of Amman, Eng. Ammar Gharaibeh, and Traffic Director, Adnan Freih, in addition to many officials of GAM.
The work areas include restoring the pathways and stairs connecting Faisal Street with Basman and King Ghazi Streets, the meeting point of Chapsogh road with Faisal Street, the works on the middle islands of Faisal Street, splitting it in two sides, right and left, in addition to the middle island between Al Saadeh and Rida Streets, the intersections with the streets: Al Hashemi, Prince Mohemmed (Wadi Al Seer), and King Hussein (Al Salt Street).
The 10 month project on a space area of 17,000 m2, will be executed in 4 stages, the first is allocated to the entrances and sidewalks, and during the working period an area is to be provided to enable the tradesmen and the citizens reach to the commercial sites.
The second phase includes the sidewalk of Faisal Street and the entrances leading to Basman Street. The third will handle Faisal Street, its middle island, and junctions with Chapsogh and Rida Streets. The fourth and final phase is to manage the junction of Faisal Street with Prince Mohammed Street and Al Husseini Mosque.