CDM Smith assessed, planned and revalidated Dubai’s dedicated bus lane network to support the client’s vision of increasing public transport share and improving bus performance.
Roads & Transport Authority
Dubai, UAE
CDM Smith completed a multi-stage assessment to identify, evaluate and prioritize dedicated bus lane corridors across Dubai. The team analyzed existing conditions, modeled future scenarios, developed conceptual layouts, and prepared implementation plans. A 2025–2040 revalidation updated ridership, network options, screening criteria and regulatory needs to support RTA’s long-term public transport strategy.
The study supports RTA’s goal of increasing public transport mode share from 18% to 30% by 2030. We developed an integrated bus lane network aligned with Dubai’s multimodal system, including corridors linking to Expo 2020 and future high-demand destinations.
Using qualitative and quantitative multicriteria assessments, we screened 55 corridors, evaluated ridership warrants, ROW adequacy, travel-time reliability, access impacts, parking considerations and operational performance—to shortlist the most feasible and beneficial routes.
High-priority corridors underwent detailed assessment, including PTV VISSIM microsimulation to model traffic operations, bus performance and hotspot conditions. Conceptual layouts were prepared to integrate dedicated lanes while ensuring safe and efficient movement in busy urban areas.
The revalidation study (study period of 2025–2040) resulted in updated implementation plans, staging priorities and regulatory considerations. This outcome ensured Dubai’s future bus lane network is technically viable, enforceable and aligned with long-term mobility policies.
Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) commissioned CDM Smith to lead Dubai’s comprehensive Dedicated Bus Lanes Study to help achieve its strategic mobility target of increasing public transport mode share to 30% by 2030. The project involved analyzing existing conditions, benchmarking global best practices, developing corridor scenarios and assessing impacts to identify most suitable routes for a citywide dedicated bus lane network. Special focus was given to connecting the Expo 2020 site with 17 proposed ExpoRider Stations, resulting in two priority corridors—Al Khail Road and Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road—being approved for implementation. We also identified 10 additional corridors for future deployment based on international standards and Dubai-specific demand. In 2025, the firm was tasked with revalidating the initial study through updated data analysis, refined screening criteria, multicriteria evaluation and right-of-way feasibility checks. From an initial list of 55 corridors, 10 high-scoring corridors advanced for further design, implementation planning and benefit–cost analysis. The integrated study strengthened the performance, reliability and attractiveness of Dubai’s bus system and supports long-term growth in sustainable mobility.
Roads & Transport Authority
Dubai, UAE
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