GTS developed mobility strategies and conceptual planning elements for a truly visionary community to be developed near Saudi Arabia’s capital. Envisioned as a utopian community where people from different backgrounds could meet, share knowledge, and foster collaboration for new ideas, the project required integration of cutting-edge and near-future transportation technologies with the simplest modes of transportation, such as walking and bicycling. The result was a concept for a transportation system in which transfer between travel modes can occur almost seamlessly, with mobility features built to encourage exploration, contemplation, and chance meetings between great minds. 

Among other items, GTS’s mobility element for this project included strategies to create an inviting pedestrian environment in an arid environment; plans for integration of different levels of security and access control into the multimodal transportation system; and concepts for linking the project area to other major destinations nearby. For the final product, GTS produced graphically rich presentation materials that were visually consistent with the overarching project themes. (The client and further project details remain confidential).

While the ultimate outcome of this project remains to be determined, the principles discovered and the partnerships formed will help to spur the development of other NextGen cities in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. At GTS we thrive on innovation and collaboration; this project allowed us to develop new concepts for future-proof mobility strategy and design that are applicable to many other ambitious and growing communities.