Benghazi Metro Project Concept Discussed at Urban Planning Initiative

Benghazi Metro Project: an urban line along the city’s coastal corridor discussed at GCUPI-Benghazi

At the Global Competitive Urban Planning Initiative for Greater Benghazi (GCUPI-Benghazi), launched in the city last week by the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund (LDRF), the "Benghazi Metro" project, an option which envisions an urban rail line along the city’s coastal corridor was discussed.

The proposed line would stretch from the Sidi Khalifa area in the east to the new Benghazi International Airport in the west, covering approximately 58.4 kilometres and featuring 17 stations, the eastern-based state news agency LANA reported today.

Hamza Al-Sharif, the originator of the concept explained to LANA that the idea emerged from a search for transport solutions suited to the city's urban expansion, noting the growing reliance on private cars for commuting between residential, work, educational, and service areas.

According to the preliminary concept, the line could accommodate over 50,000 passengers daily, with an estimated travel time of 25 to 30 minutes between the two termini. These are initial estimates subject to adjustment based on the findings of specialized studies regarding traffic flow, transport demand, population density, and land use.

The proposed route passes through various residential, commercial, service, educational, and sports zones, ultimately reaching the airport, with the potential for future integration with other modes of transport—details to be determined during the study and planning phases.

Al-Sharif believes that evaluating the project requires studies to assess projected demand, potential traffic impact, construction and operational costs, and the route's alignment with urban expansion and land-use patterns.

The "Benghazi Metro" project remains in the conceptual stage and has not yet moved to implementation. Subsequent steps require the completion of technical, economic, and traffic studies, as well as the finalization of the route, station locations, capacity, costs, funding sources, and contracting mechanisms.

The preliminary concept outlines four phases: studies and planning; design and contracting; execution and construction; and finally, operation and maintenance—with specialized studies defining the requirements for each stage.

Five foreign companies express interest in exploring collaboration in project
Al-Sharif explained that the initiative allowed the concept to be presented to companies specializing in transport, railways, infrastructure, and technology, noting that five foreign firms have expressed initial interest in exploring collaboration opportunities for the project.

He emphasized that this interest does not signify a move to the implementation phase, noting that any future steps depend on study results and institutional decisions, alongside the determination of funding and partnership mechanisms.

Discussions regarding the project take place against a backdrop of heavy reliance on private vehicles among Benghazi’s residents, coupled with the city's sprawling layout and the significant distances between its districts—factors that place mass transit high on the urban planning agenda for the coming years.

Determining the feasibility of establishing an urban rail line in Benghazi remains contingent upon the results of technical, economic, and traffic studies, as well as the project's alignment with the city's needs and its capacity to fund construction, operation, and maintenance.

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