Louis Berger, the international engineering consultancy, has won a $100 million consultancy contract for an ambitious public-transport programme in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
The programme will include a comprehensive metro and bus network, as well as new roads and highway upgrades. It will also include relevant facilities, such as stations, park-and-ride lots, depots and advanced intelligent transportation systems.
Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the governor of Madinah region and chairman of Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Development Authority (MMDA), signed the contract with the US-based consultancy to put into motion the ambitious transport initiative.
READ MORE: Infrastructure Middle East magazine
The Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Public Transportation Program (MPTP) aims to prepare Madinah for the demands of both residents and visitors through to 2040.
“We could not be prouder to be associated with MMDA in the implementation of the MPTP for the holy city of Madinah,” said D. James Stamatis, president of Louis Berger’s international operations.
“The implementation of an advanced public transportation system will endow Madinah with one of the most advanced transportation systems in the world.”
The project management office consultant (PMOC) contract will extend over five years, during which time Louis Berger will support and assist with MPTP’s strategic planning as well as oversee the various other project and construction-management consultants.
With a major expansion of both the Prophet’s Mosque and the city’s airport, projections indicate as many as 8.6 million Umrah visitors and 3.6 million Hajj pilgrims will visit the city in 2040. The transport programme will address current and future challenges related to crowding, traffic congestion and environmental pollution caused by vehicle emissions.
READ MORE: Infrastructure Middle East magazine
“Once completed, MPTP will boast world-class transportation facilities, enabling the city to ensure the safety of its citizens, visitors and pilgrims — all while enabling greater knowledge transfer and training for Saudi professionals,” said Thomas Topolski, Louis Berger’s executive vice president and managing director, Middle East and North Africa.
In order to promote knowledge sharing and ensure the sustainability of the project, the consultancy will establish a talent-development programme that will allow senior Saudi MMDA staff to follow PMOC senior managers.
The programme will aim to train and equip Saudi Arabian professionals with the management skills and technical capabilities required to eventually take over the same positions they once shadowed, before the implementation is complete.