SCP working to develop Oman National Spatial Strategy

Muscat - The Supreme Council for Planning (SCP) is setting up a framework to find adequate answers on the post-oil challenges in Oman, through the development of the Oman National Spatial Strategy (ONSS).

According to a press release, the ONSS will contain a national strategy on the desired key spatial developments till 2040 with elaborated regional strategies for all governorates. It will also include implementation programmes and proposals for a legal planning framework, a new planning information system and capacity building programmes.

National Transport Survey

As part of ONSS, the Oman National Transport Model (ONTM) will be prepared to support the establishment of an effective transport system to enable sustainable development in the country. With the aim to ensure accuracy in planning and decision making, the Oman National Transport Survey (ONTS) will be carried out from October till December to generate accurate data for the transport sector. The ONTS is being undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the ROP.

The ONTS includes a range of field surveys to be carried out in all governorates of the sultanate including interviewing commuters at various transport terminals (bus, airport, seaports, borders crossings), people at their homes, businesses, in their cars, in taxis or on buses.

The information generated by ONTS will be used to build a mathematical model of the transport network. It will also be used to identify and predict transport requirements for the future and will inform strategic decision-makers on where to build new infrastructure and where to encourage new forms of public transport.

It will also address and provide suitable measures to manage current and future challenges in the country such as a growing population and economy, road safety issues, dominance of the road sector in the current transport system and the need for wider travel options. It will also be used to define approaches to reducing the impact of transport on environment and to define network enhancements to create stronger connectivity between governorates and principal urban areas.

To ensure the ONTS is successful there is a need for a high level of participation of users of all modes of transport, households and businesses in answering detailed yet simple questions about transport use and travel behaviour in the country.

As part of ONSS, Oman National Transport Model will be prepared to support establishment of an effective transport system