GAM plans to reduce reliance on private cars — Shawarbeh

AMMAN — One major objective of the capital’s public transportation strategy, currently under implementation, is to reduce reliance on private vehicles, Amman mayor said on Saturday.

Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh said that the “comprehensive strategy” also seeks to address citizens’ declination to use public transportation through increasing the number of buses operating not only on the capital’s main routes, but also inside its neighbourhood and outskirts.

Shawarbeh’s remarks came during a meeting with residents of Amman’s Zahran   neighbourhood, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Amman’s mayor also said that the Amman transportation system will be completed by 2020, under which a total of 286 buses would be operating in the capital, according to Petra.  

Shawarbeh has previously said that the buses will be owned by GAM, and operated by a private company in order to ensure the highest standards in contrast with the current model, in which buses are both owned and operated by private companies and regulated by the public sector. 

“Such projects aim at solving Amman’s biggest challenge: traffic congestion,” Shawarbeh. 

Shawarbeh said that GAM is currently working on laying down the infrastructure of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).The mayor has recently said that 60 per cent of the Sahafa (press) Tunnel overpass of the BRT construction has been accomplished.

He added that the achievement ratio is high and it is going according to plan, expecting construction work in the area to be completed by next September.