Plans are in development for a $25 billion megaproject in Saudi Arabia, billed as the largest metro project in the world to be built in a single phase.
The King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport will include six metro lines and 84 stations. It will be capable of transporting 1.7 million passengers a day in its initial operation phase, potentially rising to 3.6 million.
In addition to the 176 kilometers (109 miles) of train lines with 190 train sets, the project’s plans include 2,860 bus stops spanning 80 bus routes, populated by 842 buses.
The new network will be connected to the King Khalid International Airport, King Abdullah Financial District, and downtown Riyadh, as well as several universities and the public transportation center.
Royal Commission for Riyadh City
The organizers say all of the metro stations will be airconditioned and provide internet access, with select stations offering shops and car parking.
The metro cars running on the lines will be fully automated and will incorporate “the world’s latest technologies.”
Reports indicate the Riyadh Metro is set to commence operations before the end of the year.
The project comes as the Middle Eastern nation seeks to diversify its oil-reliant economy and branch out into other sectors, such as tourism and financial services.
Construction is underway on the Jeddah Tower, set to be the world’s tallest skyscraper upon completion – muscling out Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, which currently claims that title.
Also in the works is the $500 billion Neom megaproject, pitched by developers as the future of urban living.
Satellite images obtained for Newsweek by Maxar satellites show elements of the build under construction – including a golf course surrounded by lavish mansions and palaces overlooking the Red Sea.
U.S. Infrastructure Projects
Separately, in the U.S., several significant rail projects are under development.
An extension for Chicago’s Red Line, first promised over 50 years ago, looks set to finally move ahead after a $2.9 billion construction contract was awarded earlier this month.
Plans for this project include four new rail stations and 5.6 miles of new track.
“The Red Line Extension corrects past transit inequity and increases access to the most affordable transportation in the city,” said Chicago Transit Authority President Dorval R. Carter Jr.
Honolulu’s Skyline – a rapid transit system set to be the first fully automated, driverless urban light metro system in the U.S. – recently received a green light for its next phase. Plans include six rail stations and approximately three miles of elevated rail guideway.
“This is another huge milestone for our rail project,” said Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina.
“This is the largest single contract of the entire project and sets the course for completing the project through downtown Honolulu.”
In June, designs were revealed for four new stations on the long-awaited California High-Speed rail line – Merced, Bakersfield, Fresno and Kings Tulare.
“We are developing an architectural language for the four Central Valley stations, including soaring canopies that draw in fresh air and shield waiting passengers from harsh sunlight. The station design reflects the sustainable ethos of the wider project,” said Stefan Behling, head of studio at Foster + Partners, one of the firms associated with the projects.
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