At least five consultancy firms are expected to submit offers by 10 July for the the contract to develop a public transport masterplan for Qatar.

The firms are understood to include:

• Crown Consult (UAE)
• WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff (Canada)
• Worley Parsons (Australia)
• CH2M Hill (US)
• Aecom (US)

Qatar’s Transport & Communications Ministry (MOTC) already awarded several packages in line with improving the country’s public transport infrastructure. These include a bus infrastructure consultancy package awarded in 2016 to US-based Aecom, and a bus operation plan awarded to France’s Systra. The first package is expected to include a plan to introduce a bus rapid transit (BRT) in the country.

Qatar has also recently awarded three of four contracts for its overarching transport masterplan.

Package 1, which entails data collection, has been awarded to UK’s Groundsure. Package 3, which comprises an update to the Qatar Strategic Transportation Model (QSTM), has been awarded to Italy’s Italconsult. Package 4, comprising updating the masterplan itself, has been awarded to a joint venture of Australia’s WorleyParsons and Germany’s PTV.

Package 2, which includes project management consultancy, has not been awarded.

PTV developed Qatar’s previous transport masterplan, which covered the 2006-16 period. The study and masterplan development was commissioned by the Municipality & Urban Planning Ministry, and was undertaken between 2006 and 2008.