Service cabs to operate in Tlaa Al Ali neighbourhoods

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) officially started operating several service cabs in west Amman’s Tlaa Al Ali area on Thursday, a GAM official said.

Ayman Smadi, executive director of GAM’s transport and traffic department, said the service is neighbourhood-based rather than route-based as in other areas. 

“Twenty years ago, population distribution  in the capital was different from today and the service cabs operating in some areas [such as Jabal Luweibdeh and Jabal Amman] are not serving as many people as they used to because some public institutions have moved to other areas,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

Noting that 3,000 service taxis operate in the capital, Smadi said GAM decided to move 35 cabs from areas where they are not heavily used to Tlaa Al Ali, where they will operate within residential neighbourhoods. 

He added that one of the main goals of this service is to spread the culture of public transport usage. 

“We want to offer a service to transport people from their homes to the main streets where public transport services are available. This will also ease public access from these areas to the Bus Rapid Transit project in the future,” he explained. The initiative also aims to alleviate traffic congestion in the capital. 

“We will provide residents with a service that will encourage them not to use their cars too often.”

“A company will be in charge of this project, paying cab drivers monthly salaries and offering them insurance coverage in addition to a uniform. They will also make a call option available for passengers,” Smadi added. 

The service will cost passengers 300 fils per trip, he said, and it will be applied in other areas of the capital.