Maani: Traffic Procedures and Measures to Eliminate Traffic Jam in Rainbow Street

Mayor of Amman, Omar Maani, declared that Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) rented a 4 dunnum piece of land within the area of Al Mutran School, with a capacity of 150 vehicles, dedicated as a free parking space for visitors of Rainbow Street during summer. 
He pointed out that GAM established many parking lots on the street entrance of the 1st Circle (Al Burqan St.), and another next to Sadeq Mall, to absorb the traffic jam in the area, which extends to the 2nd and 3rd Circles during the rush hours.
During his meeting with Rainbow Street representatives at GAM headquarters, listening to their remarks and demands, Maani added that Rainbow St. is one of the oldest streets of the Capital, and it represents the beginnings of Amman and its expansion; he also clarified that the renovation and maintenance works executed on the Street by GAM are part of a comprehensive metropolitan plan that aims at bringing the old areas of Amman back to life.
He emphasized that GAM tries to restore life into the old areas of Amman such as Faisal Street, Jabal AL Qal’aa (the Citadel Mount), and the Hashemite Plaza to encourage citizens to visit these locations; once these projects are completed the stress of traffic and visitors to Rainbow Street is expected to decline. 
During the meeting which resulted in forming a joint committee between the area residents and GAM to follow up on the work and to be noted with the residents’ claims and issues, Maani mentioned that Rainbow Street from beginning until to end is classified as a commercial category.
He added that there is no intention or plan to convert it into commercial market as Sweifieh, pointing out that GAM will not issue new licenses to open restaurants or coffee shops, and it will tighten the supervision and disallowance of parking on the left side of the street, in cooperation with the Traffic Department.
He said that GAM is very strict when it comes to licensing any commercial or touristic facilities, and that a feasibility study of the traffic and parking conditions be attached. He further stressed that the success of a public transportation system on which GAM works necessitates qualified sidewalks.
Mayor of Amman mentioned that GAM encourages the different initiatives in the city, such as Jara Market, like many cities that celebrate open markets that promote several handcrafts, folkloric and artistic skills. 
The meeting was attended by the City Manager of Amman, Eng. Ammar Gharaibeh, in addition to many officials from GAM, which reflects the keenness of GAM to promote interaction, contact, and dialogue with the local community, to be close to the residents’ requests and demands that focus on the traffic issues caused by the vehicles movement in the street, as well as disturbances from Jara Souq (market), and violations on the sidewalks.
The residents commended GAM’s efforts to serve the area, and emphasized that they are partners with GAM, as they are the beneficiaries of any development of interest in the area. 
GAM had previously renovated and rehabilitated Rainbow Street with 1400 m of length and a cost of about 2 millions JOD, to create a commercial and touristic landmark, and to activate shopping process.