Public Transport
in Saudi Arabia
Abdulaziz Al-Ohaly
President
Of
Public Transport Authority
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
27 January 2015
Contents
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Transport Sector Organisation Chart
Government Support to Public Transport
Role of PTA
Public Transport Projects
Economic Impact of Public Transport Projects
Investment Opportunities in Public Transport
Projects
Transport Sector Organisation Chart
Minister of
Transport
General Authority
of Civil Aviation
(GACA)
Ministry of
Transport
(MOT)
Public Transport
Authority
(PTA)
Roads
Transport
Development
Authorities
Municipalities
Saudi Railways
Organisation
(SRO)
Saudi Railways
Commission
(SRC)
Saudi Ports
Authority
(SPA)
Major Transport Companies
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Makkah and Holy Shrines Development Authority
Madinah Development Authority
Ar-Riyadh Development Authority (ADA)
Saudi Rail Company (SAR)
Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO)
School Bus Management Company (Tatweer)
Metro Companies (Makkah, Jeddah and
Dammam)
Government Support to Public Transport
• Cabinet resolution No. (174) on 23/4/2012:
– Approves implementation of Riyadh PT network as well as other
high density cities PT networks
– Guarantees financing for building, operating and maintaining
public transport projects.
– Instructs to develop guidelines for demand management.
– Instructs to develop mechanism for integration between urban
planning and transport planning.
• Allocation of 200 Billion Saudi Riyals for public transport
projects (Dec 2012)
• Establishment of Public Transport Authority (PTA) (Oct.
2012)
• Approval of Public Transport networks in high density cities
Role of PTA
• Regulate and supervise public transport
services for passengers within cities and
between cities.
• Provide quality services at reasonable cost
with consideration to environment, and the
integration with air transport and rail transport
between cities.
• Encourage investment in the sector.
• Knowledge transfer and capacity building.
Public Transport Networks Approvals
 Riyadh Public Transport Network (Apr. 2012)
 Makkah Public Transport Network (Aug. 2012)
 Jeddah Public Transport Network (Mar. 2013)
 Madinah Public Transport Network (Nov. 2013)
 Dammam Public Transport Network (May 2014)
Public Transport Networks in the Large Five Cities
City
Population
(million)
Number & Lengths
of LRT Routes
(Km)
Lengths of BRT
Routes
(Km)
Lengths of Standard
Buses Routes
(Km)
Makkah
1.53
(# 4)
182
95
765
Madinah
1.10
(# 5)
61
145
360
Riyadh
5.18
(# 6)
176
85
1133
Jeddah
3.43
(# 3)
108
-
750
Dammam
1.30
(# 2)
86
70
354
Trains in Some International Cities*
Cities
Population
(Million)
Start of Service
Network Length
(Km)
No. of
Routes
No. of
Stations
London*
8.3
1863
402
11
270
Moscow*
13.3
1935
321
12
192
Tokyo*
34.4
1927
310
13
290
Montreal*
1966
69
4
68
San Diego*
1975
103
4
108
Cairo*
16.8
1987
70
3
57
Dubai*
2.2
2009
76
2
47
Makkah
1.5
2013**
182
4
64
Madinah
1.1
2014**
61
5
N/A
Riyadh
5.2
2013**
176
6
85
Jeddah
3.4
2013**
108
3
72
Dammam
1.3
2014**
86
2
54
* Source: Paper by Dr. Mohammad Saad Al-Muqarri “Comparison of King Abdulaziz
Transport Project in Riyadh with Similar Projects in Large International Cities”.
** Approval to implement project
Public Transport in Riyadh
Sample of Terminals in
Riyadh
Status of Public Transport Projects
Stage
Executed Stage
Makkah
Madina
Riyadh
Jeddah
Dammam
Buraydeh
Jazan
Taif
Abha
Hufof
Hail
Tabuk
Preparation
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Development of
Master Plan
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Design Public
Transport
System
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Prepare Tender
Documents
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Tendering
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Implementation
Operation
Performance
Follow-up
: Completed
* : Under Process
 : In Preparation Phase
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The Economic Impact of Public Transport
Projects
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Development of areas served by public transport
Mobility and accessibility to education, work, shopping
and entertainment revives the economy
Employment opportunities
Savings in energy consumption and reducing
environmental impact of private vehicles
Cut spending on road construction and land acquisition
The Economic Impact of Public Transport
Projects (Cont’d)
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Trip time saving and stress reduction from traffic jams
Optimization of infrastructure
Reduction of no. of accidents and their impacts
Investment opportunities in the public transport projects
(manufacture and services)
Social inclusion
Capacity building and experience in public transport
Challenges
 Comprehensive networks in crowded cities
 Short duration for implementation
 Shortage of local experience
 International competition on international experties
 Local competition on local contractors and subcontractors
 Social acceptance of new modes
 Overcome the wide spread of private cars
 Sustainability
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Financial
Level of Service
Coverage (expansion horizontally and vertically)
Increase in public transport ridership
Economic
Investment Opportunities in Public
Transport Projects
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Contracting in construction and maintenance of public
transport networks
Construction and operation of public transport terminals
Operation and maintenance of public transport services (buses,
trains, parking, etc.)
Information technology (tickets - information)
Advertising (on facilities, vehicles and publications ex.
Tickets, cards, etc..)
Real estate and development investment (the possibility of
investing in public transport or in the surrounding areas, such
as hotels, offices and shops)
Investment Opportunities in Public
Transport Projects (Cont’d)
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Consulting services (engineering – administrative –
economic – marketing programs)
Support Services (catering, housing, hygiene and
guarding contracts.....)
The supply of vehicles and equipment
Maintenance, spare parts and after-sale services
Refueling and oils
Recruitment and training services
Manufacturing and industry
Thank you