BRT as a Public Transportation Solution for the Main Cities in Saudi Arabia

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank my supervisors, friends and family, without their support this research study would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I adjudge that the entire content of this thesis is entirely my own work; the content used in this thesis has not been submitted before in any educational institution and represents my own opinion.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ABSTRACT

This research study aims at evaluating and characterization for the current public transportation practice in the main cities of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is an example of a Third World country that faces a high growth rate, especially in the capital city, Riyadh. Saudi Arabia, in general and Riyadh in particular, face an enormous growth rate far more than any other country in the Third World, as a result of the oil boom era. Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest oil producer; the high oil revenues have affected the country's growth. Riyadh now is a city with no mass transit system, and with no provision for any type of mass transit system. The city's crisis is apparent from statistics that show that 92% of city trips are made by private automobile, while only 2% of city trips are made through public buses. It is a huge imbalance between private automobile and public buses with no mass transit system. The aim of this research study is to examine the problem and propose practical solution communicates the Saudi Cities conditions. This research study employed the quantitative research study to examine the BRT as a public transportation solution for the main cities in Saudi Arabia. The BRT is an effective concept of transportation; it ties the speed and reliability of a rail service with the lower cost and more flexible nature of a fixed-route bus service. The BRT offers the services of innovation to encourage the use of transit. The utilization of BRT technology is effective for consumers as it is cheap and time saving. The quantitative research design is most appropriate research design as it finalizing the research findings by applying several statistical tests on the survey data. In this research study the quantitative data set is collected by utilizing the technique of questionnaire survey. The main focus of survey is to collect the data set on the perception of individuals for the characterization for the current public transportation practice in the main Saudi cities as well as the LRT and BRT in terms of capacity, cost, and implementation aspects. The findings of this research study indicate that for the cities of Saudi Arabia the BRT is quite fruitful solution for the public transportation. The BRT system is effective for Saudi Arabia as it offer a high-quality bus-based transit system which delivers fast, comfortable, and cost-effective urban mobility through the provision of segregated right-of-way infrastructure, rapid and frequent operations, and excellent marketing and customer service.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER # 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the Study3

Problem Definition5

Purpose of the Study6

Objectives6

Rationale of the Study7

Research Hypothesis8

Significance of the ...