The following words and phrases, wherever they appear in this regulatory framework, shall have the meanings specified next to each:

• Regulatory Framework: The regulatory framework for public transport projects.

• Public Transport Projects: Public transport projects designated to provide land transport services for individuals through specific routes, and according to a specific timetable in a defined geographical area.

• Completed Works Study: The study of the completed works of the public transport project prepared in accordance with what is issued by the Board of Directors of the National Center for Privatization.

• Regulations Governing Privatization: The regulations issued by Council of Ministers Resolution No. (114) dated 14/2/1443 AH.

• Supervisory Committee: The supervisory committee (special) for privatization in the public transport sector, formed in accordance with the Resolution of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs No. (1-41/2/Q) dated 9/2/1441 AH.

• Executive Committee: The executive committee for public transport projects is formed in the region, city, or governorate in accordance with the regulatory framework.

• Working Teams: Working teams formed in accordance with the regulations governing the work of supervisory committees and their working teams and advisors issued by the Board of Directors of the National Center for Privatization Resolution No. (3/5/2018) dated 3/8/1439 AH, and any amendments thereto.

• General Transport Plan: A strategic plan for public and private transport that defines the priorities and strategies for transport in any region, city, or governorate, for a specified period.

• Local Transport Company: A company established - after completing the legal procedures and obtaining the necessary approvals - to manage and supervise the implementation of public transport projects and their supporting projects, develop them, offer them, and oversee their operation and maintenance in any region, city, or governorate, after approval of the general transport plan in that region, city, or governorate.

• Development Authority: The development authority for the region, city, or governorate where the public transport project is planned to be implemented.

• Secretariat: Secretariats: regions, cities, and governorates.

The regulatory framework aims to govern public transport projects, develop, tender, implement, operate, maintain, and manage them in regions, cities, and governorates, and establish procedures to determine a model for their allocation.

The Development Authority - or the Secretariat in the absence of the Development Authority - shall be responsible for coordinating with the local transport company, if available, to prepare and update the general transport plan.

The general transport plan should include the following elements:

• 1- Strategic objectives for transport in the region, city, or governorate.

• 2- An overview of the current and future transport situation and the challenges that may arise in the absence of transport means.

• 3- Transport needs and methods to meet those needs in the region, city, or governorate.

• 4- The population in the region, city, or governorate, and the expected population growth during the implementation period of the general transport plan.

• 5- The interconnection of various transport means and their integration with each other.

• 6- The capacity and technology used in transport.

• 7- The need for public parking spaces compatible with current and future transport uses.

• 8- An initial vision for urban development aimed at supporting transport projects.

• 9- Identification of locations and routes around which transport activity is concentrated, and the associated roads and infrastructure, along with plans for their development.

• 10- Transport security and safety.

• 11- Environmental protection.

• 12- Integration between current and future land uses and transport plans, and the selection of their locations in accordance with the general land uses.

• 13- Compatibility of proposed transport projects with achieving the Kingdom's Vision (2030), and with other related strategic plans, including major developmental projects.

• 14- The overall economic and financial impact of the proposed transport projects.

• 15- The expected timelines for implementing the proposed transport projects, according to the implementation plan.

• 16- Identification of relevant entities.

• 17- Mechanism for updating the general transport plan.

• 18- Active transport (walking, cycling, etc.).

• 19- The extent of impact on freight transport and facilitation of trade.

• 20- Integration of transport projects with the general transport plans in other regions, cities, and governorates, and urban planning for cities.

1– The general transport plan - and any updates thereto - shall be submitted to the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing for review and to provide opinions thereon.

2- The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing shall provide each of the following: Ministry of Economy and Planning, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, Transport General Authority, and the National Center for Privatization, with a copy of the plan after its review, within ninety (90) days from the date of its submission, to provide their observations on it and return it to the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing within sixty (60) days from the date of its referral to them.

3- The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, after considering the observations received on the plan pursuant to paragraph (2) of this article, shall submit it to the Royal Court for consideration of its approval.

Each of the following: the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and the Development Authorities Support Office, shall periodically review the general transportation plan in each region, city, or governorate to verify that it does not conflict with any general transportation plan in any other region, city, or governorate; and if either of them finds a conflict, it shall coordinate with the relevant Development Authority - or the Municipality if there is no Development Authority - in those regions, cities, or governorates to study this conflict and take the necessary measures to avoid it.

1- When a need arises for a public transport project in any area, city, or governorate, the Development Authority, the Municipality, or the local transport company - as applicable - shall, after approving the general transport plan, prepare a preliminary feasibility study; to determine the feasibility of the project and the appropriate mechanism for its implementation, taking into account the following:

• A - That public transport projects - implemented in any area, city, or governorate - are consistent with the general transport plan.

• B - That the study includes the preliminary designs for the routes after coordination with the Transport General Authority regarding them, and that those designs consider the possibility of achieving development aimed at supporting public transport projects, supporting areas with high or medium mobility density, and proximity to vital centers.

2- The study shall be submitted to the Executive Committee; for review and to provide its recommendations and return it to the entity that prepared it.

3- The study shall be submitted, after considering the recommendations of the Executive Committee, to the Supervisory Committee.

4- The Supervisory Committee shall make one of the following decisions - after reviewing the study in light of the recommendations of the Executive Committee:

• A - Approval of the preliminary feasibility study, and proceeding to the stage of studying the completed works.

• B - Directing to make some amendments to it or conducting additional studies if it becomes clear that the preliminary feasibility study needs further examination, or if there are notable observations on the procedures or documents, and resubmitting it according to the procedures mentioned in this article.

• C - Rejecting the study, and directing to follow other methods.