The Feasiblity of Impleminting Public Transportation in Jeddah

THE FEASIBLITY OF IMPLEMINTING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN JEDDAH A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE MASTER OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING BY AHMAD SHAKKER KELLY, ERIC DAMIAN-ADVISOR BALL STATE UNIVERSITY MUNCIE, INDIANA MAY 2014 ABSTRACT RESEARCH PAPER: The Feasibility of Implementing Public Transportation in Jeddah STUDENT: Ahmad Shakker DEGREE: Master of Urban and Regional Panning COLLEGE: College of Architecture and Planning DATE: May, 2014 PAGES: 81 Public transportation creates alternatives for people so they can move from one place to another. Citizens move from their houses to their work place and other services like hospitals and stores on a daily base. Public transportation provides them with a comfortable and efficient option to transport them to the places they want to visit. This study addresses the feasibility of implementing a public transportation system in Jeddah, a city that lacks an efficient mass transit system. The study demonstrates how public transportation can thrive in a place where cheap gas is available and the city has high car ownership percentage. Jeddah, a well-known city in Saudi Arabia located on the west coast of the country is the focus in this research paper. The research addresses the major problem point which not having an efficient public bus system. In order to fix the issue this research demonstrates literature answering questions related to the subject. Three case studies about different cities which are Dubai, Houston and Rio de Janeiro are conducted in this research. Each of the three cities shares similar characteristics with Jeddah and 2 offers lessons related to the public bus system. Lastly, the research conducts comparisons and proposes a conclusion for Jeddah public bus transportation issue. 3 Table of Content Introduction and Problem Statement ....................................................................................................... 1 Background of the Study......................................................................................................................... 3 Objectives of the Study ........................................................................................................................... 7 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................................................ 9 Literature Review Chapter ........................................................................................................................ 10 Chapter Outline ..................................................................................................................................... 10 The importance of transit ...................................................................................................................... 11 Modes of public transportation ............................................................................................................. 13 The Bus System .................................................................................................................................... 13 The local bus ..................................................................................................................................... 13 The express and rapid bus ................................................................................................................. 14 The Rail System .................................................................................................................................... 15 The Light Rail ................................................................................................................................... 15 The Rapid Rail .................................................................................................................................. 15 The Commuter Rail........................................................................................................................... 16 The Challenges in Applying Rail System in the Middle East................................................................ 16 Where Would the Public Bus System Run and Who Would Use It? ..................................................... 18 How Would the Public Buses Operate? ................................................................................................ 22 Who Would Be In Charge of the Public Bus System and How Would We Finance It? ........................ 28 Case Studies .............................................................................................................................................. 32 Chapter Outline ..................................................................................................................................... 32 General information .......................................................................................................................... 33 The Public Transportation of the City: .............................................................................................. 34 The Current Public Transportation Indicators ................................................................................... 36 Transportation Issues ........................................................................................................................ 36 Conclusion: ....................................................................................................................................... 41 Rio de Janeiro Case Study .................................................................................................................... 42 General information .......................................................................................................................... 42 The Public Transportation of the City ............................................................................................... 43 The Current Public Transportation Indicators ................................................................................... 43 4 Transportation Issues ........................................................................................................................ 45 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 49 Houston, Texas Case Study .................................................................................................................. 50 General information .......................................................................................................................... 50 The Public Transportation of the City ............................................................................................... 51 The Current Public Transportation Indicators ................................................................................... 52 Transportation Issues ........................................................................................................................ 53 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 57 Comparisons ......................................................................................................................................... 58 The Department in Charge ................................................................................................................ 58 Population comparison ...................................................................................................................... 58 Car ownership rate ............................................................................................................................ 59 Public bus transportation comparison: .............................................................................................. 60 Work commuters ............................................................................................................................... 63 Bus system routs map comparison .................................................................................................... 64 References......................................................................................................................................... 68 5 Introduction and Problem Statement Since I started my Urban Planning education, I always have been fascinated by the transportation methods that we use. Day after day, the importance of transportation is rapidly growing. We as human beings have been evolving, and our transportation methods were evolving with us. We evolved from using our legs to walk to taming the animals to transport us from one place to another. In the current time, we have adapted machines and developed them so we can use them to transport us. The first mechanized transportation method that emerged was the train, but everything changed when the car was invented. Moving from one place to another was easier than before thanks to the private car. The mass production of cars made them available all around the world in different shapes and sizes. With the significant increase in car ownership has resulted in many impacts on both the environment and the urban settlements. One of the ways that planners found is implementing mass public transportation means within the cities that connect them with other cities. Public transportation creates alternatives for people

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