Improving Transport Project Appraisals
In the Islamic Countries
149
As regards urban transport more specifically, the PTA carries out studies that enable a
prioritisation of projects at the local level, but it does not prioritise projects across the country,
i.e. its studies do not aim to rank projects in different localities on a national basis.
Selection criteria
According to interviewees, it is generally not possible to select a transport infrastructure project
if, following the analysis, its economic result is negative. However, in the field of urban transport,
the PTA carries out studies for single areas, and these areas have to fund a project according to
their own selection criteria. In its masterplans, PTA identifies the best alternatives, but the
prioritisation and funding of public transport against other projects lies with the municipalities.
9.8 Follow-up and learning
Monitoring and ex-post evaluation
The monitoring of project implementation is reportedly among the tasks of the Ministry of
Transport’s Execution Department, and of external consultants appointed by the Ministry.
As regards urban transport, monitoring project implementation and comparing it with project
planning falls under the tasks of the implementing entity, i.e. the organisation in charge of local
public transport in the relevant local area. In addition, a system exists to report problems
encountered during project implementation to the PTA in order to detect common obstacles: as
a matter of fact, an ad-hoc committee oversees the implementation of the different major
projects in public transport and it is tasked with identifying lessons learned and obstacles.
Ex-post evaluation is not performed on a systematic basis. On the contrary, the decision to
perform it is taken rarely and, not being enshrined in a clear legal obligation, reportedly depends
on the importance and the volume of the projects.
However, among its innovative initiatives, the PTA is planning to request project implementing
entities to have Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which are to be used during the operation
for ex-post assessment (e.g. on-time performance, schedule adherence, mean time between
failures). These KPIs are currently being defined by the PTA, in what is seen as a ground-
breaking effort. Moreover, the PTA’s requirement to implementing entities will include the
provision of their operating data as well. These data, among others, are expected to be included
in the planned transportation database.
9.9 Conclusions and recommendations
Conclusions
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a national project appraisal system is still in its infancy. Project
appraisal in the transport sector is not grounded on a legal obligation, but rather, while being
widely recognised as a good practice, left to the initiative of individual planning authorities. The
need for improving transport project appraisals and establishing standardised practices in this
field is recognised by national strategic documents.