A new vision for public transport in Amman
[Click image to enlarge]

Public transport is what makes a city a real city.

In Amman, we have devolved, over the past few decades, into a private car city. Only 17% of people in Amman use public transport and private car ownership has gone through the roof. Millions were spent on roads, tunnels and bridges. Transportation costs eat into people’s incomes and reduce economic opportunities for many.

In this morning’s newspapers, the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) is outlining a new vision for public transport in the city (see the ad above).

Just imagine a Amman where everyone from kids to grandmothers and from poor to rich take the bus.

What GAM is outlining is a system that combines city buses, rapid transit busses with dedicated (and closed off) lanes and even a network of light rail trains in the coming years. Yes you read that right!

We can only hope that these plans see the light. We just cannot go on in the same expensive and unsustainable direction. We need to get on the bus.

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11 responses to “A new vision for public transport in Amman”

  1. nasimjo Avatar
    nasimjo

    Finally! A public awareness program about public transportation! something that i have been calling for since ages.

    By the way, the 1st paragraph is EXACTLY the same one that the 1st chapter in project BiSCA’s documentation manual start with… if you dont believe it, you can go and find it at the National library, its copyrighted :)

    Of course, moving the public transportation infrastructure to a multi-leveled one with the introduction of BRT and LRT is the most necessary improvement that amman needed from this sector.

    But that wouldn’t be perfect without a public awareness campaign, a quality control for the sector, and most important & tangible of all: increasing the attractiveness of the sector, by having interactive information systems, clear schedules and quality, cleanness from the inside before the outside, proper bus stations, and implementing the Park and Ride concept.

  2. nasimjo Avatar
    nasimjo

    By the way, i liked how u guys edited the bus screens :P they “almost” look real

  3. Comment Leaver Avatar
    Comment Leaver

    You know what, I’ve seen the new Amman Municipality logo proposals at the exhibition, I really liked one of the options, but after seeing this excellent layout, I’m more in favor of keeping the old Amman logo and more importantly keeping the green and yellow colors that people got used to.

    Maybe the re-branding should be made around the old logo, with some minor tweaking maybe, like done above!

    In the end it’s only my opinion. Keep up the good work.

  4. Fahd Avatar
    Fahd

    The GAM never lessons. They like to spend on solutions that are disconnected from reality. Fact is, public transportation in Jordan sucks. Its’ filthy. When you are seated or when you rub against anything in the bus, chances are you will soil your cloths. They are disorganized. No one knows which buses stop where and when. It seems public transportation is a word of mouth thing. You have to ask around to know about the schedule and where to. Many bus drivers are rude imbeciles. The problem is not with Jordanians. Nor is it a build it and they shall come proposition. We need quality public transportation. not just more buses that few know were and when they are going or coming.

    fact is, this issues has been ongoing for many years with little progress. They just talk and talk and talk and little progress is made. they think it’s a matter of more buses. so they throw more money at the problem when the basics have not been mastered. not to mention overcrowding on some routs at certain hours which make taking a taxi more logical.

    jordan’s public sector is like Microsoft Windows. The makers promose the next version will solve all the problems only to find more problems with it. At least Windows is every where. Can’t say the same for Jordan’s public transportation.

    GAM spends too much money on image and spin but little money on quality, substance, and sustainability. Nice press release, but no cigar.

  5. The Observer Avatar
    The Observer

    That is great! Hope they implement it well.

    What about having a metro? Why isn’t it considered in the plan?

  6. Noura Avatar
    Noura

    I have heard that the municipality is considering King Abdullah I Park-Wadi Saqra, to be redesigned as a hub/central for the light rail trains…

  7. nasimjo Avatar
    nasimjo

    Noura,
    it will be both, BRT and LRT.

    Observer,
    LRT is an over-ground / underground in some parts / Modern Metro, making it completely underground will indeed cost alot of money, and more over, it will never be completed according to the Jordanian way :) Thus, LRT is better, and BRT is even better than both, as i personally still doubt they’d deliver the LRT as claimed!

    Fahd,
    totally agree with you, (check my posts if you don’t believe).. but having this bad situation at the moment doesn’t mean it shouldn’t or couldnt be improved.

    the introduction of BRT and LRT means a multi-leveled public transportation infrastructure, and those an overall change in the quality of service. and WE HOPE, and as i mentioned earlier a change in the quality of several things.

    more over, until now, it was only talk, but with a decline in quality rather than a progress! to be honest, at this very moment im writing this, the public transportation sector in Amman is the worst we have ever witnessed.

    lool at the Windows example :)

  8. Majd Avatar
    Majd

    Interesting – gong toward a more sustainable transportation system. I wonder if a subway system is a viable option in Amman.

  9. Ibby Avatar
    Ibby

    Observer: They are not considering a metro because trying to tunnel through granite is an idea even the deluded bureaucrats of the GAM realize is not feasible.

    A public transport system will only work if it is integrated, efficient, cheap and if West Ammanis are prepared to ditch their over inflated egos and cars and sit next to people who don’t live in 3abdoun or Dier 3’bar. In other words, the scheme is doomed to failure.

  10. 3ajooz Avatar
    3ajooz

    agree with Ibby
    good luck GAM and good luck Humeid: the branding expert

  11. Areej Avatar
    Areej

    Still we need an underground connecting the whole city to make Amman a city, long live Moscow