Ammon News - The government is moving forward with plans to establish a 1,000-space electronic park-and-ride facility serving Jordan Street, Airport Road and the Na'eima interchange, as part of efforts to develop an integrated public transport network that eases traffic congestion and improves connectivity between Amman and the governorates.

The project was discussed during a meeting bringing together Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abu Al-Samen, Minister of Local Administration Eng. Walid Al-Masri and Greater Amman Municipality Committee Chairman Dr. Yousef Al-Shawarbeh, along with representatives of the Ministry of Transport, the Land Transport Regulatory Commission, the Department of Lands and Survey and other relevant agencies.

The meeting reviewed the findings of a technical committee tasked with evaluating potential sites for implementing the "Park and Ride" system, in line with Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan's directives to prepare the studies required for the project.

The proposed electronic parking facility would accommodate around 1,000 vehicles and serve major transport corridors extending north toward Tabbour and south toward Airport Road, while linking with existing and planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes.

The "Park and Ride" concept is widely adopted in major cities, allowing motorists to leave their vehicles at designated parking facilities near key transport hubs before completing their journeys by public transport. The system is designed to reduce congestion, lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions, and improve the efficiency of urban transport networks.

The project is aligned with the Economic Modernization Vision, which identifies transport as a key driver of economic growth and calls for the development of an integrated public transport system, improved mobility within and between governorates, and greater reliance on sustainable mass transit.

It also supports the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which seeks to establish a modern, safe and sustainable transport system through greater integration between transport modes and the adoption of smart mobility solutions. The initiative is also intended to maximize the benefits of the Bus Rapid Transit network by creating interchange parking facilities that encourage commuters to switch from private vehicles to public transport.

Abu Al-Samen stressed the importance of commissioning comprehensive transport studies through a specialized engineering consultancy. The studies will include classified traffic counts, assessments of current and future transport demand, origin-and-destination surveys, environmental and social impact assessments, and public opinion surveys to gauge commuters' willingness to shift to public transportation.

Al-Masri underscored the need to assess the feasibility of dedicated BRT lanes on both sides of the roads and determine how they would connect to the proposed parking facilities. He also proposed evaluating additional government-owned sites, including land behind the Mobis Housing area and Plot No. 324 in the Jiza area along Airport Road, if studies demonstrate the need for additional stations.

He further called for taking into consideration the planned Na'eima Transport Complex, the proposed Irbid-Ajloun Road and the Irbid Ring Road, currently under construction, when selecting the optimal site for the Na'eima facility.

Al-Shawarbeh emphasized the importance of integrating the project with Greater Amman's parking strategy and urban mobility plans, with particular attention to accessibility and the application of intelligent transport systems in managing the parking facilities.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Ministry of Transport was tasked with preparing the terms of reference for appointing a specialized engineering consultancy to undertake detailed studies covering traffic analysis, infrastructure assessment, economic feasibility, operating tariffs, feeder transport services, site evaluation and land acquisition requirements.

The Ministry of Public Works and Housing was also tasked with submitting the committee's recommendations to the Prime Minister in preparation for the necessary government decisions.