The Roads and Transport and Authority (RTA) and the Dubai Police have announced the traffic plan around Burj Khalifa in anticipation of the hundreds of thousands of UAE residents and visitors who will ring in the New Year at the world's tallest tower. The RTA said "based on lessons learned from last year, an integrated plan has been mapped out to move the public from the event site to their destinations which include setting up an ad hoc pedestrian crossing on Sheikh Zayed Road near the Business Bay Station to facilitate the movement from and to the other side of the road such that there will be two temporary crosswalks on Sheikh Zayed Road." Aside from the Dubai Metro, 90 buses on Sheikh Zayed Road in the direction of Financial Centre are assigned to lift the public from Burj Khalifa Metro station to and from the Al Jafiyia Station and Mankhool prayer yard; 20 buses on Sheikh Zayed Road heading to Abu Dhabi will lift riders from Burj Khalifa Metro station to Noor Islamic Bank Metro station; 35 buses to lift riders from Financial Centre Street to the parking lots of Al Wasl Club, Jafiliya and Deira City Centre; 20 buses on Financial Centre Street to lift riders to the parking of Al Jafiliya Station and Al Mankhool Prayer yard; and 5 buses to lift riders nearby Dubai Water Canal to Noor Islamic Bank Metro station. There will also be additional directional signs to inform the public of alternative parking slots and guide pedestrians to the available transportation services at the time of departure. Some roads will be closed starting at 4pm (Al Asayel Street from Oud Metha to Financial Centre) and the Burj Khalifa Metro Station will be closed at 10pm but buses will be distributed to facilitate the lifting of riders to their destinations. The RTA and Dubai Police advised the public to use mass transport to access the event venue. Those who have made reservations at restaurants in the Boulevard or at Dubai Mall should arrive before 5pm to avoid any inconveniences.
Motorists are advised to take alternative routes and follow the directional signs provided and vehicles are not allowed to park at the event's venue, especially on Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, in order to maintain traffic safety and open the way for emergency vehicles. Moreover, the RTA encouraged everyone "to be patient, cooperative and follow the instructions of authorities and police personnel. The RTA also announced on Wednesday that all paid parking zones are free of charge beginning on Sunday, December 31, until Monday, January 1, except at multi-level parking lots. Except for the closure of the Burj Khalifa Metro Station, Dubai's Metro Red Line will run continuously for 43 hours starting from 5am on December 31 until midnight of January 2. The Green Line metro stations will operate from 5.30am until midnight January 2. The metro link bus stations (Rashidiya, Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta, Burj Khalifa, Abu Hail, and Etisalat) will be in service from 5am until 2.20am the following day. Dubai Tram will operate from 6am December 31 until 1am on Tuesday January 2. The service timing of public buses will be changed as well. Main stations, such as Gold Souq, will operate from 4.25am to 12.29 (past midnight). Al Ghubaiba Station will be open from 4.16am to 1am of the following day. "All public transit means in Dubai will be monitored through the Enterprise Control & Command Center (EC3) of the RTA. The Center will be in direct coordination with the Main Traffic Lights Control Center and the Operation Rooms of Dubai Police, Emaar, and the RTA teams at the site," said Eng Maitha bin Adai, CEO of RTA's traffic and roads agency and head of traffic movement management and operational plans handling during official and annual events team. Directional signage and intelligent traffic systems Drivers should be very attentive. There will be 62 directional signage guiding to alternative parking mentioned. Signs will also be installed for the use of internal roads at the Business Bay leading to the Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road to ease the pressure on the Financial Centre Street and 67 directional signs will be installed to guide the public within Burj Khalifa District to ease the movement of pedestrians to and from the venue of the event. The RTA will use intelligent traffic systems. The light signals on the Financial Centre Street and the Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard will be monitored during various peak times in coordination with Emaar Control Room. Virtual messaging signs will be used to alert road users when closures are made and direct them to the alternative parking areas provided. BOX Pedestrian bridges on the Dubai Water Canal will be closed, as well as the associated lifts, for the public safety. The pedestrian walkway on the Sheikh Zayed Road above the Water Canal will also be closed. There will be two temporary crosswalks on Sheikh Zayed Road. An additional ad hoc pedestrian crossing will be established on Sheikh Zayed Road near the Business Bay Station to facilitate the movement of the public The public are encouraged to use the social media channels of RTA, Dubai Police for their inquiries and to know more about traffic details Numbers > 2M expected riders to use public transport means in this year's NYE event, compared with 1,793,691 riders lifted last year. > 18,000 trips taxis are expected to make lifting about 38,500 passengers. > 8009090 - RTA's toll-free number for inquiries > www.rta.ae - RTA website Tips for New Year revellers . Use public transport to access the event venue. . Use alternative routes according to the directional signs provided. . Be patient, cooperative and follow the instructions of RTA and Dubai Police personnel. . Vehicles should not parked on the streets around the event's venue, especially on Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, in order to maintain traffic safety and open the way for emergency vehicles. . Individuals who have reservations in the Boulevard or at the Dubai Mall have to come before 5:00 pm - angel@khaleejtimes.com
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