Project Details

Narrative Description of Project:
The project is concerned with presenting viable options for school transport in Riyadh and defining the role of the government in these services. 

Description of Actual Services Provided:
Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a fast growing metropolis with a population of 4 million, and expected to double in 10 years. This metropolis currently have 600,000 students. The Ministry of Education and the Presidency for Female Education provide limited student transport. With a high car ownership, many students depend on the private car for their school trips. This situation is creating severe congestions near schools, especially during the early afternoon when picking students for the trip back home. Moreover, dependence on private transport is forcing families to hire drivers and own more cars. 
Currently female students, and the lower extent male students, benefit from a government provided bus transport system. Level of service seems to be lower than expectations, since gradually less students are using it in spite of the fact it is provided free of charge.
The study aims at proposing a school transport system, suitable for male and female students. It should be attractive enough to lure students away from the private transport and sustainable in terms of cost-recovery. The proposed system should be operationalized into packages that can be tendered to private operators.