فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
The city of Fez is preparing to launch a pioneering project to modernize its urban transport system through the establishment of the “Fez Local Development Company for Transport and Mobility,” with an initial capital of 5 million MAD and an ambitious investment program valued at 566 million MAD over the period from 2025 to 2035. This was announced during the recent extraordinary session of the Fez Municipal Council, where it was revealed that the municipality will hold 89.99% of the capital, alongside the Fez-Meknes regional authority and the municipalities of Al-Machour Fez, Oulad Tayeb, Sidi Harazem, and Ain El Beida.
This project responds to the needs of an urban agglomeration with a population exceeding 1.25 million inhabitants, expected to reach 1.368 million by 2030. This presents an increasing challenge for public transport, especially given the current fleet’s limited size of fewer than 100 buses, which is insufficient to meet the demand for urban and inter-municipal mobility.
The project includes the acquisition of 250 new buses at a cost of 300 million MAD, the implementation of an electronic payment system worth 16 million MAD, the construction of a modern maintenance center valued at 100 million MAD, and the development of two high-level bus service lines (BHNS) equipped with specialized facilities costing 150 million MAD.
The project is expected to receive financial support from the state through the Urban Road Transport Reform Support Fund, as part of implementing the new national sustainable mobility model.
Projections indicate that the number of passengers will increase from 82.13 million in 2025 to 113.46 million by 2035, with an average fare not exceeding 4 MAD per trip. Operating costs are estimated at 41.6 million MAD, mostly allocated to employee salaries, while revenues are expected to reach 96.1 million MAD, with 79.5% coming from fare collection and monitoring, and 20.5% from municipal subsidies.
Project stakeholders aim to shift more than 177,000 daily trips from private cars and taxis to public transport, aligning with sustainability goals to reduce congestion and pollution, especially as Morocco prepares to host major events such as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The feasibility study confirms a cost coverage rate of 231%, ensuring the project’s financial balance, with an expected cumulative treasury of 86.65 million MAD by 2034 and equity capital reaching 40.8 million MAD.
Local actors view this project as a turning point in Fez’s urban transport sector, reflecting the city’s commitment to the national strategy for modernizing transport services through a model that separates investment risks from operational risks, thereby enhancing the economic and urban attractiveness of the scientific capital.
