|
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) confirmed that the decision to revise the parking fee structure in Dubai Emirate was prompted by the need to find out solutions for the problem of the decreasing number of vacant parking slots in congested parts of the city. It also stems from the need to encourage the people to use more of mass transit means and abandon the heavy reliance on private vehicles. However, the fee hike does not affect 77% of the total number of paid parking slots in Dubai amounting to about 130 thousand car parks. The implementation of the revised parking fare will take effect on 28 May 2016.
Engineer Metha bin Udai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic & Roads Agency said: “the decision to regulate the use of parking in Dubai involving a parking fee hike effective from this May 28 covers only 23% of total parking slots in Dubai i.e. 77% of parking slots are not affected by this revision. The Decision intends to increase the rotation of using parking slots in high-demand areas in order to make them available to the largest possible number of users. Thus, the overall objective of the decision is to offer a solution for the scarcity of vacant parking slots in congested areas of the city.
“A full system involving free packages & services has been developed for citizens & residents spanning a wide spectrum of the community such as the disabled, seniors, and government entities among others. 11 types of parking permits will therefore be available to a variety of community segments to serve their legitimate needs, supported by documentary evidences, to avail such permits. These 11 categories include permanently disabled, temporary disabled, disabled tourists & visitors of the Emirate, patients with chronic illnesses regularly visiting hospitals, seniors over 60, citizens residing in controlled public parking zones, in addition to GCC citizens residing in controlled public parking zones, government entities, consulates operating in the Emirate, and residents in residential communities where parking is prohibited at night for non-residents, in addition to permits at discounted rates offered to university students,” explained Metha.
“The new policy of revising the tariff of public parking in Dubai is built on concept of ensuring that parking slots are not unjustifiably occupied, and are made available to the largest possible number of users especially at noon, to enable people visit hospitals, malls and banks. RTA is continuing to upgrade & broaden its service network through offering alternative solutions to encourage the people to use public transport means, which are considered integral part of Dubai infrastructure.
“The new parking policy conforms to the top practices of the industry and is considered the least expensive when compared to similar policies of major cities such as London, Singapore and Hong Kong. The new policy takes into consideration the rate of parking occupancy in the area, proportion of commercial & residential buildings, and the availability/congestion of public transport means,” she noted.
“The free parking period at noon has been abolished under the new policy and the paid parking period will thus continue seamlessly from 8 am to 10 pm during weekdays except Friday and public holidays. The move is intended to increase the frequency of using the single parking during that period in response to the needs of the local market and the wishes of customers to regulate the public parking during that period. The parking fare in multi-level parking terminals has also been upped from AED3 to AED5 per hour in order to increase the rotation of using the parking slots in these buildings,” continued Maitha.
“RTA always seeks to provide convenient mobility to customers & community members in Dubai in terms of using public transport means & car parks, and figuring out suitable solutions to any challenges encountered in optimizing the benefits from RTA services,” she added.
|
New
