Transport, operational and wayfinding design in Jeddah

Steer was part of the Foster + Partners team who won the international competition to design a new public transport system for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

Our role covered transport facility design and operational advice, passenger flow analysis and wayfinding services with outputs including the design of physical and virtual passenger wayfinding and information across all public transport modes, and passenger flow modelling of passenger movements within metro stations and interchanges to inform spatial configuration and vertical circulation requirements.

Taking a long-term, sustainable approach, which anticipates growth centuries from now, the vision for Jeddah’s transport network includes the design of metro, heavy rail, tram, ferry, bus, cycle, public spaces and transit oriented development. The comprehensive plan extends from the design of the stations to the trains and branding. In addition, the development of the metro system will create a new urban amenity for the city of Jeddah at key locations below the elevated track.

Designed in response to the local climate, the masterplan is city-wide and draws on the high-density, compact urban model of the ancient quarter of Al Balad, with its mixture of uses and comfortable, walkable shaded streets. Currently only 12 percent of the population live within a 10-minute walk of Jeddah’s transport nodes – the project aims to achieve 50 percent, through a process of densification and strategic planning. Each station node will create a new neighbourhood, with a unique character, and together these will create a diverse and vibrant city.