Implementing Sustainable Transport Strategies at City and Regional Levels
Despite sustainability goals at the national level, city-level implementation was inconsistent. Green infrastructure projects lacked funding prioritization, and there was minimal alignment across local jurisdictions. Public fleet transitions were uncoordinated, and private sector involvement in sustainable transport was limited. Urban development often prioritized roads and parking over active and shared mobility. Decision-makers lacked standardized tools to assess sustainability impacts or evaluate green procurement options.
We co-developed a Sustainable Transport Strategy Toolkit tailored for Saudi municipalities, including carbon impact calculators, project scoring models, and implementation playbooks. We piloted low-emission zones (LEZs), launched green public fleet transitions, and implemented incentive schemes for electric taxis and shared mobility providers. The solution embedded transport sustainability KPIs into annual budgeting and procurement policies, ensuring consistent performance tracking and accountability.
- Reviewed local mobility plans and identified sustainability gaps
- Designed KPIs for carbon intensity, modal shift, fleet efficiency, and infrastructure usage
- Piloted electric vehicle zones and green bus corridors in four cities
- Created budgeting templates aligned with carbon performance indicators
- Engaged private operators through green concession design and support grants
- Conducted public campaigns on sustainable commuting behavior
- Developed performance dashboards and biannual scorecards for city reporting
- Embed sustainability clauses in all urban mobility RFPs and public fleet tenders
- Introduce congestion pricing and parking reform to incentivize low-carbon modes
- Establish inter-municipality knowledge exchange programs
- Prioritize pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in master planning
- Create green transport bonds to finance sustainable mobility investments
- Require quarterly reporting on transport emissions and mode shares
In pilot cities, carbon emissions from transport dropped by 12,600 tons CO₂ annually, while public transport ridership grew by 28%. The introduction of green KPIs in budgeting reallocated over SAR 180 million towards sustainable transport infrastructure. Electric taxi registrations doubled within one year, and public awareness campaigns reached 1.1 million residents, resulting in increased usage of shared and active mobility.