RIYADH, 22 November 2006 — Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry inaugurated a symposium here yesterday aimed at finding solutions to public transportation problems in the Kingdom. Seven government bodies took part in the symposium entitled “Public Transportation in the Cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” organized by the General Administration Institute.

Dozens of specialists representing the government bodies involved directly in public transportation in the Kingdom presented reports and research on the matter.

“Public transportation means in major cities in the Kingdom are among the most vital ways to decrease traffic jams. It also contributes by saving money from using private vehicles,” said Al-Seraisry during his opening speech. “Whenever public transportation means are more advanced in quality, citizens and residents are more likely to be convinced of using them.”

The symposium would also shed light on the problems of public transportation, solutions, the relationship between public and private sectors, as well as reflecting the experiences of other countries in public transportation, he said.

“I am confident that these efforts will open future horizons to develop the public transportation sector services in the Kingdom,” he said, adding that supervising and developing public transportation was the responsibility of the ministry.

According to Muhammad Al-Ghaith, president of the recommendations committee, the symposium discussed several workshops and the reality of public transportation in Saudi cities.

He said that the committee’s main role was to re-draft the main points discussed in the symposium and present it to a ministerial committee which will then present it to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for approval.

Over 57 papers were discussed in the symposium.

In the paper presented by the Ministry of Transport, officials stressed the need to establish a public transportation system that would reduce use of private vehicles; providing transportation to segments of society that cannot access available means of public transport such as women, elderly persons and handicapped persons; the need to improve the basic infrastructure for public transportation; and setting a timeframe where public transportation means would be used by 10 percent of the public in five years and 25 percent in the next 25 years.

The Traffic Department said in a paper that its mission was to coordinate with concerned authorities to organize traffic flow in main cities, especially during rush hour. It also said that new bus drivers would have to be educated about safety measures on the road and in their vehicles.

The Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) said in its presentation that deploying large fleets of buses in Saudi cities at the current stage was not practical.

The roads of the Kingdom were not designed in a proper way that would allow the designation of special lanes for buses, as well as bus stops, as in other countries, the company argued.

It also said that it faced problems operating in cities as private bus owners, taxis and private drivers use the right lane which is supposed to be only for public bus services.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the event, the minister said that concerned bodies that took part in the symposium have acknowledged that there was a serious problem in public transportation in the Kingdom.

“The concerned bodies have admitted that the status quo today does not suit the development stage the Kingdom is going through,” he said.