RIYADH: The Royal Commission for Riyadh City launched the third phase of the Riyadh Bus service on Saturday. The service is part of the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport. The Saudi Press Agency described the service as “vital for the economic and urban transformation of Riyadh,” explaining that it “aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to advance the transportation sector.” The latest phase of the project has expanded the number of routes to 33, covering a total distance of 1,284 km, with 565 buses and 1,611 bus stops. Once all five phases are completed by the end of 2024, the network will cover a total distance of 1,900 km, the SPA reported. The project will also include an online portal for those intending to travel on Riyadh buses. Since its launch in March, the Riyadh Bus service has reportedly served over 4 million passengers. The first phase of the service involved the operation of more than 340 buses on 15 different routes.