11-12 February 2014 Issues in planning for future transport systems in Middle East Cities Jubail City Planning Forum, Saudi Arabia Omar Al Battaineh, Arup

11-12 February 2014

Issues in planning for future transport systems in Middle East Cities

Jubail City Planning Forum, Saudi ArabiaOmar Al Battaineh, Arup

Growth in our cities is challenging

Growth in GDP touching double digits in some years over the last

decade

More people, more economical activities, more access to everything,

resulting in a very dynamic demand.

Jubail City Planning Forum, 2014

Transport demand is more challenging

Present transport system:

We have more mobility of people

General economic and lifestyle

Problems:

Quality of service, speed and reliability

are often unsatisfactory;

Serious auto dependency


Transport Problem

• Too complex:

• several modes,

• large networks,

• purpose of trips,

• groups of trip makers,

• perception to time and cost,

• time of the day;

• etc. etc.


http://www.google.ae/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=T1KdZRl0e7Cx8M&tbnid=Rlufgts0nMyfIM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://km4meu.wordpress.com/category/multi-stakeholder-processes/&ei=niLmUuySLq6y7Abo0ICYBg&bvm=bv.59930103,d.ZGU&psig=AFQjCNG9VGlXUf-9nwLErFWkIHclHQPM4w&ust=1390900131221737

Observation 1: We look at short term solutions Solutions that provide quick wins;

Keep the city moving;

Likely cost of PT com compared to roads for a city that has no major PT systems

Public Transport

Roads


Observation 1: We look at short term solutions Building more roads is easier…. we know

how to do it!!!

Can see the benefits quickly from new roads;

More highway will reduce our ability to walk and cycle

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 500

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Line Capacity (‘000 spaces/h)

Opera

ting S

peed (

km

/h)

RB1

Rapid Transit

Semi Rapid Transit

Street Transit

RB2 SCR

SRB

LRT1

LRT2

RRT1

RGR

RRT2

Productive Capacity

Key:

RGR Regional RailRRT Rail Rapid TransitLRT Light rail TransitSRB Semi Rapid TransitRB Rapid TransitSCR Tram

Au

to/S

treet

Au

to/F

reew

ay


Observation 1: We look at short term solutions


Observation 2: Highways but not Streets!!! Not only we create more roads, slots of them can be

done better

We have lots of roads that are not human, not interconnected, and has no accommodation of people!


Observation 2: Highways but not Streets!!! Our streets should be called “Mini-highways”!

The speed on them is high

They are not safe, and not human


Observation 3: Planning to construction In many cases, we create a fantastic plan….. But

they do not get implemented this way; Bad street implementation


Observation 3: Planning to construction Poor pedestrian environment


Observation 3: Planning to construction Poor public space


Observation 3: Planning to construction Very car centric spaces


Observation 3: Planning to construction Isolated communities!


Observation 4: Land use planning and its impact Transport tend to follow land use planning

We usually plan our development and let transport to be sorted next…… and the first choice is always more roads!


Sustainability?! We do not have walking or

cycling as major modes of travel

Our PT systems are limited

Our cars has low occupancy!

Jubail City Planning Forum

We have more traffic engineers, and less transport planners When the job is to create more

highways, it is easy

It is hard though when the job is to create spaces for people

LOS issue


We have more traffic engineers, and less transport planners

Seoul, South Korea

Dubai

We are creating large roads, interchanges, highways while

Somewhere else highways are removed to create spaces!


So, what should we do

Divert key investment to PT



Demand Management / policies to encourage PT instead of short term solutions:

Parking charges Congestion charging / road toll HOV / bus lanes Car ownership Fuel pricing



Create complete communities where people can live, work, study, worship and play in the same community

Create transit oriented developments

Avoid sprawl and go toward denser cities


So, what should we do Create complete streets

Do not apply highway design guidelines on streets!

Sample street design manuals



Before After

Regenerate current bad streets to create complete streets


So, what should we do Educate local professional community to create plans

that cater for people and create spaces …..... Less for cars


Thank you

Documents

11-12 February 2014 Issues in planning for future transport systems in Middle East Cities Jubail City Planning Forum, Saudi Arabia Omar Al Battaineh, Arup