ABU DHABI // Abu Dhabi wants 30 per cent of journeys to be made by public transport by 2030, a transport expert said yesterday.
"I think it is on the right track," said Alain Flausch, the secretary general of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), on the sidelines of the third UITP Mena Congress in the capital.
There is a long way to go - at the moment, the figure is five per cent.
By 2030, the city's metro and light-rail transit systems should be up and running, greatly expanding the public transport options.
"It's such a fantastic plan," Mr Flausch said. "They designed such an ambitious plan and the DoT is committed to making it a reality."
Saeed Al Hameli, general manager of the bus division at the Department of Transport (DoT), said the target was achievable. "But there must be some level of acceptance for motorists to get out of their cars and use public transport," he said.
Today, the DoT will announce details of the Abu Dhabi metro and downtown LRT, which will travel at speeds of up to 100 kph.
