Most Jeddah roads to reach saturation point by 2019

An official in the transport sector has said that 60 percent of Jeddah’s roads will reach the saturation point by 2019 and has called for expanding existing roads, constructing new roads and implementing public transportation projects.
“There are 6 million trips made daily in Jeddah, posing a huge burden on its streets and traffic flow,” said Ibrahim Katbkhanah, director-general of the Jeddah Metro Company. “Jeddah’s public transport system remains weak, limited, disorganized and outdated and only accounts for 1.2 percent of total daily traffic movement in the city.”
“In addition, a recent study suggests that Jeddah’s 3.8 million residents are set to increase to a staggering 6 million by 2020,” he said.
Katbkhanah said that more than 25 percent of streets have reached saturation level, while 15 percent exceeded their capacity. According to the study, 64 percent of Jeddah’s cars are privately owned, while taxis account for 8 percent of vehicles.
Katbkhanah said that the Jeddah Metro Company would ensure that it would achieve tangible results in the next 20 years.
He said that the company still hasn’t defined locations for its 70 odd stations and that locations would be defined after studies are complete.
Properties slated for removal to make way for the projects will also be inventoried following the end of the feasibility study.
He said that coordination is ongoing between public transportation project managers and officials responsible for overpass and underpass projects.