The people of Kuwait experienced an exceptional condition last Monday, the 27th of March, which was accompanied with heavy rain storm, where the networks failed to discharge. As a result, more than twenty locations on main roads closed, resulting in massive traffic jams. As a result, people were stuck in their cars for long periods, and the country appeared paralyzed.

Such a condition significantly impacted people’s state of mind. Some experienced anger, while others blamed official authorities and contractors. This wave eventually faded after a few days, and once the attention shifted to new issues and incidents, that attracted more attention.

We must realize that the deteriorating condition of the metropolitan area results from decades of wrong decisions and neglect. What we see today is only a symptom of a disease that is speeding slowly and which will bring more signs in the coming years if we don’t act urgently.

Despite the long legacy of planning expertise, the high spending on international consultants, and the availability of local competencies, our mobility in Kuwait could be better. Anyway, there is still a chance to improve the situation.

In this short article, I emphasize that the traffic congestion issue cannot be solved by just road expansion. Instead, we should examine other variants than a solution that resorts to regulations that tighten car ownership and licensing for expats.

From a planning point of view, the solutions are intuitive and are among the ABCs of work worldwide; they have been implemented in all leading cities and even within our neighboring region.

1. Our master planning must be balanced and create an even distribution of facilities, services, and employment. Without this strategy, people will spend more time on roads going from one place to other and adding pressure to the network.
2. We have to change our planning methodologies and seek to promote mix-used development in most neighborhoods. To create a mix between living, working and shopping. One of the leading causes of traffic congestion is emptying Kuwait City, the capital, of housing for low-income groups, despite their large number, which led them to move to the suburbs on the outskirt of the metropolitan area and compelled them to commute to the city daily.
3. More importantly, improving the public transport system and the provision of alternative modes that substitute private vehicles is essential. We need real public investment in public buses and actual improvement in their operation. We must provide alternatives such as large and small buses and introduce more routes covering the entire metropolitan area. Also, schools and universities must give collective transport for a fair percentage of their pupils. Decision-makers should understand that public transport is a service, not a mere commercial activity. The government should allocate sufficient funding at this stage, as it would reap social benefits and, eventually, economic returns.

The solutions are known and intuitive but require firm decisions based on sound technical advice. However, if we maintain the same course of action, our daily movement will be similar to what we experienced on the 27th of March.