From 26 – 29 April 2009, IQPC, a global provider of tailored, industry-driven conferences, will be hosting Urban Transportation 2009, a prestigious four-day event focusing on the creation of integrated, sustainable and cost-effective urban transportation networks. The Department of Transport is participating in the first day of the conference, Sunday 26th April 2009, during which they will present the Emirate’s groundbreaking Surface Transport Master Plan (STMP) alongside the Urban Planning Council.

The STMP develops a detailed framework and implementation schedule for enacting the conceptual transportation vision in Plan Abu Dhabi 2030. The capital has already started inviting bids for the Abu Dhabi Metro Study and there are plans to undertake the significant amounts of work required to create a world-class sustainable transportation infrastructure necessary to take Abu Dhabi up to the year 2030.

The plan will feature an integrated public transport system involving rail, metro, trams, buses and ferries, as well as an improved road network and operations. The latest in intelligent transport systems and travel demand management policies will be applied to enhance accessibility for residents and visitors, and improve the pedestrian and bicycle environment.

James Plotnek, Conference Director for Urban Transportation 2009, says, “We are delighted to have the Surface Transport Master Plan as one of the central elements of this event. We believe that the event’s host city of Abu Dhabi will prove to be an example for the region and the world-at-large.”

The following days of Urban Transportation 2009 will also feature an exclusive keynote presentation from Eng. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Subail, Director General for Strategic Urban Planning from the Arriyadh Development Authority on sustainable transportation strategies in the city of Riyadh, with an emphasis on public transportation. They will be joined on the agenda by speakers from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, the Abu Dhabi Police, the Ministry of Works of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Secretariat for the Committee on Infrastructure of the Government of India, Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation and a host of major private companies.

Attendees can immerse themselves in a full three days of presentations and case studies from senior local and international speakers, as well as interactive discussions on crucial issues. The fourth day will feature two half-day workshops taking an in-depth look at the critical issues of demand management and safety.

Urban Transportation 2009 runs from 26-29 April at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, UAE. Further information may be obtained at www.urban-transportation.com