Amman — As Amman’s public transport system faces growing challenges amid population increases, the idea of building a metro in the capital has returned to the spotlight, with the Greater Amman Municipality moving to prepare studies examining its economic feasibility, cost and potential routes, according to City Manager Nabil Al-Jariri.
While the project remains at the study stage, moving forward will depend on the findings of technical and economic assessments and the ability to secure the necessary financing.
This has raised questions among experts about whether Amman needs a metro given the availability of other public transport alternatives, whether the city’s geography allows the project to be economically viable, and what regulatory challenges could hinder its implementation.
Geological and Topographical Challenges
Jordanian Geologists Association President Khaled Fayyad Al-Shawabkeh said the need for a metro project in Amman is driven by several factors, most notably worsening traffic congestion, population and urban growth, and the need to develop a public transport system capable of efficiently and reliably serving large numbers of residents.
He stressed that any decision to implement the project should not be based solely on the scale of traffic congestion. Instead, it requires a comprehensive study comparing the metro’s economic and technical feasibility with available alternatives, particularly expanding the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, expanding the bus network and improving integration among public transport modes.
Al-Shawabkeh explained that Amman’s mountainous terrain, valleys and varying slopes, combined with differences in the geological and engineering characteristics of its rocks and soil, present technical challenges that require detailed study before metro routes are determined.
These characteristics do not make the project impossible, he said, but they require an assessment of several potential risks, including slope stability, groundwater, land subsidence, and the impact of excavation works on existing buildings and infrastructure networks.
Al-Shawabkeh added that previous studies have examined the possibility of building a metro in Amman, but definitively establishing its feasibility requires updated field studies and detailed designs rather than relying on general assessments of the city’s terrain and geography.
Available Public Transport Alternatives
Regarding the available options, Al-Shawabkeh said developing the BRT system, expanding its routes, improving the efficiency of feeder buses, unifying fares and payment systems, and improving connections between neighborhoods, workplaces and universities could significantly improve public transport services.
At the same time, he said a metro could be an appropriate option for corridors where transport demand is proven to exceed the capacity of surface transport to serve users efficiently, provided its economic feasibility is confirmed and sufficient financial resources are available to build, operate and maintain it over the long term.
Al-Shawabkeh stressed that the project’s success would also depend on addressing regulatory and institutional challenges, particularly clarifying the responsibilities of the relevant authorities, strengthening coordination between the municipality, the Ministry of Transport and the Land Transport Regulatory Commission, and ensuring integration between urban and transport planning.
He also emphasized the need to clearly define financing and operating mechanisms, distribute risks between the public and private sectors, ensure transparency in tenders and contracts, and address the impact of land acquisition and traffic diversions during construction.
Role of Geologists in the Project
Al-Shawabkeh stressed the importance of involving geologists throughout all stages of the project, beginning with route selection and the preparation of geological and engineering maps, followed by geotechnical and hydrogeological studies and seismic risk assessments, through to construction supervision and monitoring risks associated with ground conditions.
He concluded that developing Amman’s transport system requires integrated planning that balances the need for high-capacity mass transit with economic feasibility, geological and topographical conditions, and institutional capacity for implementation.
He said the professional position of the Jordanian Geologists Association is to support an objective assessment of the metro project as part of a comprehensive comparison with available alternatives, identifying the most viable corridors and avoiding a final investment decision until the necessary technical, economic, environmental and regulatory studies are completed.
Comprehensive Studies Before Implementation
Mazen Al-Nabulsi, secretary of the Architectural Engineering Division at the Jordan Engineers Association, said the success of a metro project in Amman depends on planning, technical, financial and funding factors, with the latter two among its most important foundations.
Al-Nabulsi said assessing the metro’s feasibility requires examining the extent of demand for it given the limited efficiency or effectiveness of some existing public transport modes, its ability to improve mobility in priority areas where rapid access is needed, and the need for its routes to be clearly connected to commercial, residential and service centers.
He stressed the importance of preparing a comprehensive integrated master plan that identifies site priorities and links metro routes to land uses and activities through short-, medium- and long-term implementation phases.
He said an initial assessment of Amman’s public transport situation and available options suggests that a metro could be a positive choice in principle, provided the necessary planning and design requirements are met to ensure its effectiveness.
Al-Nabulsi called for a comprehensive and integrated study to assess the metro’s efficiency in vital areas, particularly major commercial and service corridors. He noted that the regulatory and physical layout of some areas could limit its effectiveness due to complex traffic intersections, narrow main streets and the relationship between buildings, roads and surrounding spaces.
He added that the project study should include the urban form of targeted areas, including building heights and their relationship with streets, the width of public spaces, and the design of squares, sidewalks and urban spaces, ensuring that the project integrates with the city’s urban fabric.
An Integrated Network
Al-Nabulsi emphasized the importance of providing supporting transport lines and passenger transfer and distribution hubs at metro stations. These would help absorb public transport demand, reorganize mobility patterns, and improve accessibility and service efficiency.
He explained that the project’s success would not depend solely on train speed. Users must also be able to reach workplaces and activity centers easily, while safe pedestrian environments should be provided and the pressures faced by pedestrians during their journeys reduced.
He also called for developing multiple project scenarios and drawing on successful international experiences while avoiding the failures seen in other projects. He stressed the need to study the impact of metro routes and facilities on the urban landscape and the heights of neighboring buildings.
A variety of transport options and safe, comfortable and visually attractive facilities should be provided so that the metro becomes a positive addition to Amman’s identity and urban character.
A Stable Planning Vision
Assessing the city’s current situation, Al-Nabulsi said Amman has a distinctive identity, a long history and important geographical characteristics, but has faced challenges related to an unclear planning vision, changes to master plans and the failure to fully implement them in an integrated manner.
He noted that the city has seen several public transport projects proposed, most notably the BRT, which still requires assessment and development in some areas. This makes assessing the current and future state of public transport more complex.
He said the metro project carries two possibilities. The first is that it could represent a positive transformation in the transport system if planning, design and environmental requirements are properly addressed. The second is that it could become another project that fails to achieve its intended results, similar to previous projects, potentially producing negative consequences for the city and its residents.
Recommendations to Ensure Project Success
Al-Nabulsi presented several recommendations he considers essential to improving the project’s chances of success. These include unifying decision-making and designating a single authority responsible for planning and contracting the transport network and ensuring its integration, in coordination among the municipality, the Ministry of Transport, the Land Transport Regulatory Commission and neighboring municipalities, rather than managing each project separately.
He also called for linking the transport network to urban planning schemes, clearly defining routes from a technical perspective, and providing supporting logistical facilities, including depots and operational services.
Al-Nabulsi stressed the need to establish the project’s economic feasibility, develop appropriate mechanisms to compensate affected parties, assess potential short- and long-term risks, and prioritize public safety throughout the planning, construction and operation phases.
He said proposing a metro project is positive in principle, but its success remains conditional on providing suitable infrastructure, complying with planning, design and environmental requirements, and addressing expected obstacles before construction begins.
He emphasized that Amman cannot afford to repeat experiences that fail to achieve their objectives or produce unintended negative outcomes.
Source: Al-Ghad
