Faleh Al-Dubyani Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – The ministerial committee for public transport in Makkah province has presented the final draft of feasibility studies and designing phase for public transport in Jeddah to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. As per the plan, a comprehensive public transport system will be implemented in Jeddah in seven years. The system includes networks of light train, buses and sea transport. The Jeddah Mayoralty has been entrusted to set up a special company to supervise implementation of the public transport projects. The public transport plan includes a light train network over a distance of 67 km from Makkah Road to Obhur via central Jeddah. The three-line network will have 22 stations. A 24-km line will link King Abdulaziz International Airport to Haramain Railway Station at Sulaimaniya district in the Old Airport area. The line will have 17 stations. Another 17-km line with seven stations will link the Haramain station with Corniche via Palestine Road. The public transport system also includes a network of 816 buses plying over a total length of 750 km. A sea transport network with 10 stations will be built along the Corniche with the aim of boosting tourism and entertainment. The ministerial committee, chaired by Emir of Makkah Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, met on Jan. 9 to review the progress of a plan to beef up the public transport system in the province, including the cities of Jeddah and Makkah. Jeddah Mayor Hani Aburas briefed the meeting on the studies about the public transport system. The studies were made following a decision of the Cabinet to introduce public transport system in major cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to ease traffic flow. The government will meet the entire cost of implementation, maintenance and operation of these projects.
