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Doha: The Public Bus Infrastructure Programme of the Ministry of Transport (MoT) will achieve integration between public transit systems.
“Public Bus Infrastructure Programme aims at providing integrated, sustainable transit system,” the Ministry said in a tweet. The programme, which is being implemented with support of other state institutions, is also set to increase public transit ridership in the next few years.
Enhancing Qatar’s position as a leading country in using eco-friendly electric vehicles is also part of main objectives of the Public Bus Infrastructure Programme. “It will offer high-quality service and facilities with world’s best technologies and specifications that reflect Qatar’s advanced public transit sector,” reads the tweet.
Reducing carbon emissions of fossil fuel vehicles and improving overall air and climate quality in Qatar are also among main objectives of the programme.
The programme consists of 8 bus stations (Al Sudan, Msheireb, Al Gharrafa, Lusail, Al Wakra, Education City, Industrial Area, and West Bay Central), and four bus depots in Lusail, the New Industrial Area, Al Wakra, and Al Rayyan.
All these facilities are supported with over 650 charging stations for e-bus operations. The Programme also includes four Park & Ride parking locations in Al Qassar, Al Wakra, Lusail, and Education City, in service of public transit users.
The programme also featured the developing of more than 2,300 bus stops in and outside of Doha City, designed in accordance with highest world standards and technology. Meanwhile, the updated land transportation policies, set under Transportation Master Plan for Qatar 2050 (TMPQ), encourage non-motorised transport.
The TMPQ works as a roadmap for investing in land transportation infrastructure and also identifies the frameworks and future orientations for developing the transportation networks nationwide in a way that ensures their integration with land uses, urban development, population growth and meeting the future demand for transportation.
The non-motorised policies, under TMPQ land transportation, aim to encourage non-motorised transport, including walking, cycling and small-wheeled transport, in order to reduce congestion, pollution levels, and promote physical activity and health and environmental benefits.
Before the hosting of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Qatar had succeeded in achieving the target of converting 25 percent of its public transport fleet to eco-friendly mode.
In 2020, the country set a goal to make 25 percent of its public transit bus fleet electric-powered by 2022.
Public buses, government school buses and Doha Metro feeder buses will gradually shift to electric, thus hitting the roll-out percentage required to reduce harmful carbon emissions from buses by 2030.
