The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) introduced their Smart Shelters, which was part of the RTA’s mission to not only improve the infrastructure of the public transit system — but to also encourage riders to use its system. The Smart Shelters offer a number of amenities, revolutionizing how riders can wait.
The first of the one hundred shelters were rolled out in February 2016 and Mohammed Al Ali, director, planning and business development, RTA said that they have since finished the two phased project.
“RTA has completed the project, currently Smart Service are operational at all the 100 locations. RTA has considered the public bus stops with the highest number of riders to ensure the maximum feedback at the initial stage,” said Al Ali. “These locations were selected carefully in more than fifteen key areas in Dubai such as Shaikh Zayed Road, Deira, Bur Dubai, Jumeirah, Karama, Al Qouz, Al Satwa, Al Qusais.”
The future technology of bus stops
This isn’t the first time that RTA has offered rider-friendly shelters though, the agencies original shelters were also air-conditioned, created by Smart Shelter. Smart Shelter previously partnered with RTA for a two-year contract supplying coach catering a luxury coach service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi
“(More than) 1000 air-conditioned bus shelters were originally installed in Dubai’s urban areas in 2004,” explained Rohit Dalmia, GM of Smart Shelter. “When the Smart Shelter concept was presented to the emirate’s Road Transport Authority (RTA) to retrofit 100 of the most prominent bus shelters with the four key amenities — Wi-Fi access, mobile/cell phone recharge, utility bill payment and convenience store; the government was extremely receptive and supportive of this initiative. The move came as a result of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to develop smart services across the emirate that serves both the public and commercial purpose.”
Each of the Smart Shelters is open 24-hours a day and were designed to be very user friendly. Each shelter is fully contained, and air-conditioned, keeping riders out of extreme temperatures while they wait for their bus. The shelters also include services aimed to
“The Smart shelter provides many unique services to our valued customers,” explained Al Ali.
For the amenities a partnership was formed with Wi-Fi UAE, Charge Up for mobile/cell phone charging, and MBME for the bill payment system.
A plan with riders in mind
“RTA set up a goal for the Happiness of Dubai people, which encourage all sectors and agencies to develop projects to match it. One of the major services provided is the Public Transport buses that covers a high percentage of the commuters daily,” said Al Ali. “Accordingly, we have monitored our customer’s feedback and requirements which mainly focused on NOL cards top-up facilities and bus trips timing. So, RTA has develop a concept that provides those requirements as well as additional pioneering services that exceeds their expectation”
Dalmia explained, “We, in collaboration with the RTA, conducted customer surveys to determine what the commuter required while waiting for their ride, as well as passersby in the area. Based on the findings, we initiated services that were practical and feasible.”
Dalmia said that the 100 shelters were converted over a nine-month period.
The project funded and implemented through a Public Private Partnership (P3).
“Initially, the air-conditioned shelters project has been implemented in similar P3 model. This project is continuation process of a successful story. The current investor has shown interest to implement the initial phase,” said Al Ali.
Looking to the future
The passenger information systems that were involved within the Smart Shelters not only offered riders more information about when their buses would be arriving — but also provided more control for riders to pay fares and find information about transit changes.
Al Ali said that since the launch, feedback has been positive. “We have monitored the feedback after implantation of the 100 locations and shows high impact on the customers satisfaction increased to 94 percent on the Public Bus Services.”
Dalmia said Smart Shelter has also received positive feedback, "We have plenty of positive feedback and, of course, the fact that our shelters are well frequented, with repeat customers, is feedback enough. However, our greatest feedback is that fact that we won a prestigious government award for the Smartest Initiative in 2016 entirely due to a public vote. The Hamdan bin Mohammed Smart Government Program, is an initiative by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Smart Dubai, which aims to foster innovative products and services for the city’s inhabitants and is the highest government honor in the emirate."
The initiative behind the Smart Shelters was developed to work towards RTA's goal of keeping riders happy, not only through comfort, but also promotes safe travel where the rider is able to plan their trip. RTA and Smart Shelter worked together to create public transportation infrastructure that mirrored the development of Dubai into a smart city.
“I think that the most exciting aspect is the fact that we have found a niche in the market and are successfully managing to serve the public, as well as being commercially viable in that we are generating revenue for the government on a dead asset. It’s effectively a new revenue stream which contributes to the general upkeep and maintenance of the shelters. A win-win situation for all those involved — government, us and the public,” Dalmia said.
Al Ali said that RTA will continue to expand the program. “Currently, we are developing new plans for the air-conditioned shelters which will introduce more locations and advanced services to our valuable customers.”
