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Middle East cities lead the world in transport, says new study

Dubai and Riyadh’s ambitious transport plans are setting a template for cities around the world to follow, according to a major new study commissioned by Siemens, which is thought to be the most comprehensive of its type ever undertaken. The preliminary findings of the independent study, released for the first time just ahead of the Gulf Traffic Exhibition on 9 December, show that Dubai’s massive and sustained recent investment places it highly in the thirty-plus cities studied, while Riyadh’s high quali
December 10, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
%$Linker: 2 Internal <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 4 9782 0 oLinkInternal <span class="oLinkInternal"><span class="oLinkInternal">RSS</span></span> Events (Diary) false /rss/events/ true false%>Dubai and Riyadh’s ambitious transport plans are setting a template for cities around the world to follow, according to a major new study commissioned by 189 Siemens, which is thought to be the most comprehensive of its type ever undertaken.

The preliminary findings of the independent study, released for the First time just ahead of the 553 Gulf Traffic Exhibition on 9 December, show that Dubai’s massive and sustained recent investment places it highly in the thirty-plus cities studied, while Riyadh’s high quality road and forthcoming metro networks will allow Saudi Arabia’s capital to confidently manage future growth in population and traffic levels.

Credo, an independent strategy consultant, conducted the study, examining over thirty cities around the world, analysing and comparing them for transport provision, quality, development and planning. Credo also examined external factors such as population growth, the potential impact of emerging technologies and working practices, and historic investment to provide cities and policymakers with the information they need to draw on best practice from around the world and identify the best channels for future investment.

Dubai and Riyadh are highly praised for the lack of congestion on roads and public transport and on their plans both to build new road and rail infrastructure and to maximise the capacity of existing assets through the use of advanced traffic management technologies.

Wider findings from the study – which will not be completed in full until 2014 – confirm the importance of good transport networks in cities to generate wealth and growth, cater for rising populations and limit the environmental impact of transport on a city’s inhabitants.

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