GAM announces completion of four BRT projects

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has completed the infrastructure works of four Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects, according to a GAM statement sent to The Jordan Times on Saturday.

During a press conference on Saturday, attended by Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Ahmad Hanandeh, Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh announced the launch of 16 e-services, reaching 93 per cent of GAM’s digital transformation project’s completion, according to the statement.

The main passenger terminal in Amman’s Sweileh area, the Jordan Museum Station in Ras Al Ain, the station at the Sports City Intersections, in addition to the works on Queen Rania Street have all been completed, the statement said.

According to Amman mayor, BRT’s infrastructure works and GAM’s online services would be completed by mid-February 2021, whereas only nine services are left. 

He noted that “the BRT project is an urbanised addition to Amman city and is an integrated system of services which include the upgrading of roads and sidewalks along the 25 kilometres long BRT routes”.

Hanandeh said during the press conference that GAM’s digital transformation project is a “successful example that was built on proper rules, achieving the desired outcomes”.

“The remaining work of the BRT project is in Al Shaheed and Shareef Naser Bin Jameel streets,” according to Shawarbeh.

Wafaa Manaseer, a 25-year-old Jordanian, told The Jordan Times that having transportation to and from work will really help her save money and time, especially since she cannot afford to buy a car.

“I am so excited to start using the BRT project’s buses. I think it is one of GAM’s greatest achievements. I avoid using public transportation, but this project is different,” Manaseer said.

The 22km BRT project that connects Amman and Zarqa would ease traffic jams between the two governorates, according to authorities. The BRT project begins at Al Mahata Complex and is proposed to stretch to the Zarqa Complex.