Aecom Technology Corporation has been awarded a $28-million contract to provide pre-programme management consultancy services to Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Metro Company.

Under the 18-month contract, Aecom will supply expert staff to support the preliminary planning and design work for various phases of Jeddah’s public transport project, which will link key commercial, residential and industrial areas across the Jeddah region.

Jeddah Metro Company last month unveiled Jeddah’s seven-year transport plan, which is estimated to cost a total of SR45 billion ($12 billion). The project includes trains, trams, metros with 72 stations spanning 152 km, marine networks, ferries, and buses.

The tram network will be 48 km long with 48 stations, while the commuter rail network will be 93 km long with 13 stations.

Meanwhile, the planned integrated public transport system for Dammam and Qatif cities will cost around SR60 billion ($16 billion), a senior official was quoted as saying.

Eastern Province Mayor Fahad Al Jubair said in a report in Arab News that the studies and identification of stations will take about 18 months and the project is expected to be completed by 2021.

The project will consist of light rail, buses, rapid transport and shuttle buses, he said.

It will have two main lines, including one linking Dareen island in the north of the province to Qatif, passing by Dammam and Dhahran and extending to the King Fahd Causeway, which links Saudi Arabia with Bahrain. The second line will connect King Fahd Road in Dammam with King Fahd International Airport in the west.