BY LYNDA SCHMIDT
Anyone who has driven in Riyadh can attest to the fact that traffic conditions can be congested and chaotic. With women being issued driver’s licenses as of June 24, 2018 and the population expected to grow from the current 6.5 million to 8 million by 2030, the road situation will become more challenging. Fortunately, transportation and infrastructure play an important part in the Saudi Vision 2030. The goals reflect an integrated policy and include the building of Smart Cities concepts, construction of a new metro system, new city buses, tour buses and expansion of airports by following best practices.
Smart Cities are urban areas that use different types of electronic data collection sensors to supply information which is used to manage assets and resources effectively. The concept of smart cities in transportation development is evident in the construction of the Riyadh Metro, which will run driverless trains with tickets issued through apps downloaded onto cell phones or electronic prepaid Smart cards.
Riyadh Metro was designed and is being constructed by the BACS consortium. It will consist of six lines covering 176 kilometres and 85 stations, including the airport. There will be three classes of tickets; first, single and family. Free Wi-Fi will be available on all trains and at all stations and train screens and maps will be in both Arabic and English.
The undertaking is expected to be fully operational by 2021 and will cost an estimated US 22.5 billion, placing Riyadh Metro at the forefront of sustainable urban transport as the most expensive and largest public transportation system in the world.
In addition to the metro system, Riyadh is set to have 965 new buses provided by the Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO). The Riyadh “red buses” have been launched a few months ago. Tickets can be obtained through the use of smart cards available at vending machines or from the Urban app that can be downloaded onto your phone. Tickets cost from three to five riyals.
Tour Buses are already in operation to transport people to the most important landmarks in Riyadh. Tickets are available for purchase on-line at citysightseeing-riyadh.com, on-bus, at most hotels or at tour departure points. Ticket prices are: adult: 112 SR (3 routes); 50 SR (1 route); children: 68 SR (3 routes); 30 SR (1 route); family: 294 SR (3 routes); 132 SR (1 route).
You can hop on and off at any stop on the itinerary to explore the attractions, which include several malls, the Masmak Fortress, Al Diriyah Historical City and the Aviation Museum, to name a few. The three tours are:
- RED: Culture Tour, starting @ King Fahd National Library Park, 70 minutes duration, running every 20 minutes
- BLUE: Entertainment Tour, starting @ Al Nakheel Mall, 80 minutes duration; running every 30 minutes
- GREEN: Historical Tour, starting @ Panorama Mall, 90 minutes duration, running every 30 minutes
The new King Khalid Airport Terminal 5 is now complete and open for business. This newest addition handles all Saudi Arabia Airlines domestic flights. The expansion allows for an increase in the capacity of passengers from 14 million to an expected 40 million by 2038. The terminal features thirty-six check-in counters, shuttle service to the other terminals every ten minutes, and will be connected to the Riyadh metro once the metro project is completed.
The metro, city buses, tour buses and the new airport terminal comprise a promise for the future of a revolutionary transport network that will have the potential to facilitate economic prosperity and diversity in Riyadh.
Riyadh Metro Visitors Centre
Al Urubah Rd, King Abdul Aziz
P.O. Box 94501
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 11614
Toll Free: 1 99 33
Email: info@riyadhmetro.sa
Website: www.riyadhmetro.sa
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