On April 03, 2019, HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, chairman of the Riyadh Development Authority (RDA) chaired RDA’s second meeting of 1440H.
HE CEO of Riyadh Development Authority, Engr. Tariq bin Abdulaziz Al-Faris said that the meeting approved the Riyadh Road Network Priority List of 1440-1441H, which covers 19 items including 68 kilometer of ring roads, 38 kilometers of arterial roads, 74 kilometers of freeways and 8 key metropolitan intersections.
The meeting also reviewed the RDA’s Advanced Traffic Control Project, which is built on the world-class central traffic control system, TransSuite, that directly receives traffic data from the traffic cameras and signal controllers deployed across the city of Riyadh. Then, the system analyzes such data instantly and adjusts the timing of traffic signals to optimize the traffic flow and ensure overall synchronization. The system generates regular traffic reports and manages traffic flow during crises giving priority to the emergency vehicles. It can also monitor all intersections in the city with cameras to ensure rapid response to the different emergencies.
To date, 330 of the first phase’s 420 intersections across the city have been completed and are in service.
The meeting also reviewed the efforts of the Riyadh Urban Observatory, which, under the umbrella of the Riyadh Development Authority, monitors all the city’s urban development projects and facilitates the follow-up of the progress achieved through 117 urban indicators developed in participation with 56 stakeholders covering all metropolitan sectors.
During its third session, the Riyadh Urban Observatory adopted key recommendations, including:
The RDA also revealed during the meeting that – based on its estimates – the metropolitan population reached 6.9 million, with a growth rate of 3.5% in 1440H. The Saudis constituted 66% of the total population while the non-Saudis accounted for the remaining 34%. The age group (25 years and below) represented 50% of the city’s Saudi population.
The RDA approved a request by the Al Batterjee Group to build seven hospitals located across the city, with a total of 340 new patient beds.
In the same context, the meeting also approved a group of tourist, recreational, commercial and office projects, including: