Transportation Projects set to Transform Kuwait's Infrastructure

DUBAI, UAE, August 26, 2010 - Huge transportation projects are underway in Kuwait in order to improve
the country's connectivity with its neighbors and reduce its congestion and
traffic problems. Kuwait is keeping pace with its regional counterparts and
is set to begin implementing its own rail and metro projects as part of the
GCC's wider efforts to improve public transportation networks.

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According to Middle East rail expert and Rail Manager for Arup, Oliver
Billings, "Existing transport infrastructure is limited to the motor vehicle,
with journey times severely affected by peak hour traffic. After a number of
years of slow infrastructure development, this appears to be changing."

This change can be seen in the likes of the Kuwait metro project, which
is one of the key pillars of the government's strategy to achieve its goals.
Conceptual studies have been completed for the mass transit system in Kuwait
and tenders are currently being assessed by the country's Public Private
Partnerships (PPP) body, the Partnerships Technical Bureau, for the role
transactions advisor to take the project forward. The new public transport
system will reach 550kms upon completion and will cover the northern and
southern parts of the country as well as critical infrastructure such as
airports and railway stations.

The successful consortium will have its work cut out for it because of
Kuwait's extreme weather conditions and the lack of prior planning within the
country's transportation infrastructure. Finding solutions to these issues
will be of paramount importance and assessing examples from throughout the
region could provide clues as to how similar issues have been overcome. Such
case studies will be investigated along with Kuwait's key transportation
projects at IQPC's Urban Transportation Summit - Kuwait, which is being held
under the patronage of Kuwait's Ministry for Public Works.

Other issues will also be addressed, including overcoming the transition
from cars to public transportation, which has been a major problem in this
part of the world. Governments across the GCC have been assessing various
strategies to encourage a mode shift towards public transportation. Oliver
explains that whilst there is a key role for the private car in future
development in Kuwait city, the inherent inefficiency of car-based living in
high density urban areas is now a major constraint to future success.

He continues by adding, "Integrated land use and transportation planning
must address this in a manner that creates attractive places to live, work
and play without dependence on private cars and with excellent provision for
mass transit and pedestrian movements. Policies including parking strategies
have an important role to play in supporting the essential investment in
public transport."

Oliver is one of the experts who will be speaking at IQPC's Urban
Transportation Summit - Kuwait. The event will be taking place at the
Movenpick Hotel Al Bida'a Kuwait City, Kuwait on the 10 - 13 October 2010.
This industry leading conference will include presentations from Kuwait's
Deputy Minister for Public Works and members of the country's rail and metro
committee. It will provide the opportunity to gain insight into Kuwait's
transportation projects and regional transportation master plans and case
studies. For more information visit www.urbantransportationkuwait.com,
call +9714-3642975 or email enquiry@iqpc.ae

For more information visit www.urbantransportationkuwait.com, call +9714-3642975 or email enquiry at iqpc.ae