Abu Ras said a study is to be carried out to develop an advanced transport system to cater for the city’s traffic needs while taking into consideration the economic development that is to take place over the next 20 years.

“On the basis of the study, the municipality will formulate policies to improve the traffic sector so that it can keep pace with the growing economy and increasing population in Jeddah,” said Abdul Aziz Asiri, director of Transport and Traffic Engineering at the municipality.

The municipality has to find effective solutions, both long-term and short-term, for the worsening traffic bottlenecks because of the city’s rapidly growing population and increasing number of vehicles, Asiri added.

“The traffic needs of Jeddah are unique because of the demands of the changing seasons of work, vacations and festivals besides the city’s role as the gateway to the two holy mosques,” Asiri said, adding that experiments in other cities in the Kingdom and the Gulf were also reviewed at the meeting.

The study will estimate the city’s needs for the next 20 years in terms of private and taxi cars, buses, trucks and trains in addition to pedestrian needs. It will also consider the environment issues related to improvements in the transportation system. The study will also suggest the construction of new roads, underpasses, overpasses and circular roads in the city, he said.

The study will also point out the demerits of the city’s current public transport system, which is mainly dependent on cars, suggest a comprehensive public transport system that takes into consideration the peak seasons, and offer short-term and long-term solutions for the difficult traffic situation in the city.

The municipality also needs a comprehensive database for the traffic sector and a system to train municipal officials in the transportation departments, he said.