Adel Fakieh was addressing a meeting of officials examining the feasibility of improving public transport in Jeddah.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport Abdul Aziz Al-Ouhali and the ministry’s director in charge of roads Tarik Talmasani were among those who attended.
The Ministry of Transport reviewed the project, as well as a study to be conducted by a consultancy office on the feasibility of implementing the first phase of work for the new transport system.
During the meeting, Al-Ouhali reiterated the keenness of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his government to implement a comprehensive public transport system throughout the Kingdom. He added that the study would take 15 months to complete.
He said the ministry has completed a preliminary study for the project and recommended the construction of two 108 km tracks for metro trains to run on.
According to Al-Ouhali, the first track will extend from Old Makkah Road to downtown, before finishing at Sari Road
The second track will run along Prince Majed Street from King Abdul Aziz International Airport to where the old airport was located, while the third will run along Palestine Road.
Al-Ouhali said the metro trains would travel through densely populated areas and expected a large number of passengers to use them.
He added that as part of the second phase of the project, tracks would be laid along King Abdul Aziz Road to the Corniche.
