Improving Transport Project Appraisals
In the Islamic Countries
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However, a relevant change in the transportation sector’s governance intervened at the end of
2011, when the Public Transport Authority (PTA) was founded as an institution with financial
and administrative independence. Among its tasks, the PTA regulates the public transportation
sector in Saudi Arabia and defines the framework for design, construction and operation of all
public transport systems in the Kingdom. Additionally, the PTA is responsible for developing
standards and guidelines across all transport modes, and for monitoring their application. In the
field of urban transport specifically, the PTA is in charge of masterplans featuring the discussion
of alternative projects and their evaluation through a multi-criteria analysis. Actual project
appraisals, which constitute major studies, are frequently carried out by appointed external
consultants, because of limited staff resources. The PTA, however, has internal resources to
oversee them.
Figure 9.1: Governance of project appraisals in the field of public transportation
Source: Authors
The PTA does not implement projects: implementing entities can be either specific companies in
charge of major projects (as in the case of the five major cities) or municipalities. The PTA has a
say in certifying the operations, but no say in capital expenditure decisions.
Beyond public transportation, the PTA is additionally tasked with regulating the maritime
transport sector based on the rules established by the International Maritime Organisation, and
it oversees all maritime transport activities in the Kingdom. In this area, project appraisals are
under the responsibility of the sector-specific authorities (i.e. Saudi Ports Authority). Air
transport, on the contrary, does not fall under the responsibilities of the PTA, and project
appraisals are carried out by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
On a different note, the General Administration for Traffic (GAT), a department linked to the
Ministry of Interior, is responsible for the operation and control of traffic in Saudi cities (mainly
through traffic plans and traffic management). The traffic engineering units in the department
are responsible for technical work relating to roads and vehicles, and their tasks include
coordination with other governmental bodies in relation to traffic engineering114.
Finally, as regards capital expenditure, the funding of projects is generally a responsibility of the
central government, particularly in the field of public transport. The five largest cities were for
instance tasked to develop plans for public transport in recent years, and received authorisation
114 Alotaibi, O. and Potoglou, D., 2018. Introducing public transport and relevant strategies in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia: a
stakeholders’ perspective, Urban, Planning and Transport Research, vol. 6(1), p. 42.
Developingstandards and guidelines across all
transport modes,and monitoring their application
In charge of urban transport masterplans,evaluating
alternative projects through a multi-criteria analysis
Project appraisals are carried out by appointed
external consultants, and reviewed by PTA itself