Mayor Moshe Leon and Minister of Transportation Miri Regev on the first run of the line to Hadassah Ein Kerem (photo: official website, Avi Mizrahi)
The Jerusalem Municipality and the Transportation Master Plan team recently summarized the transportation infrastructure development activities in the city for 2022 and the schedule for the coming years.
As always there are delays, but also good news.
This is how the main projects look, which will change the lives of Jerusalemites as well as the many visitors to the city, and in the meantime the works on them sometimes create traffic disruptions and traffic jams.
The light rail at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital (Photo: Imaging: Transportation Master Plan)
Light Rail
The Red Line:
The extension of the line that has been operating since 2011 between Pisgat Ze'ev and Mount Herzl, the Hadassah Ein-Karem Hospital in the south of the city and the Neve Ya'akov neighborhood in the north, is currently planned to start operating only at the beginning of July.
Originally it was planned for these days, it was postponed to May, and at the event on the occasion of the first trial trip on the new route south from Mount Herzl, Mayor Moshe Leon announced that it will take place in June.
The new postponement is still ahead of the official schedule, which set the launch for November.
The Green Line:
During 2024, the first section will open between a central station and Malha, through the Fat junction.
In mid-2025, the Gila - Mount Scopus section will be opened, and at the end of 2025, the full operation of the JNET network will begin, with five operational lines, including the Neve Yaakov - Givat Shaul section.
The Moriah company, which is responsible for the infrastructure works ('Infra 1') for the extension of the Red Line and the construction of the Green Line, has already completed about 70% of the works, among other things in Baft Darom and the Fat settlement, Malcha, Givat Mordechai, Hadassah Ein Kerem, Modai, Har Hatsopus, Dov Joseph and more.
In addition, the 'Infra 2' works (laying rails, pouring concrete and electrifying the line), carried out by the 'Kfir' company, have been advanced in several sections of the red and green route: Hantaka, Sold, Ora, Hadassah and more, and will soon begin in other sections, including the Gila sections and a mouthful
Kfir has already received 13 new light rail cars from the Spanish company 'CAF', which is expected to deliver to it a total of 57 sets of train pairs, i.e. 114 cars, by the year 2025. These will join the existing light rail fleet, which will enable the increase of light rail frequencies, at the same time for extending the red line and opening the green.
More in Walla!
B-Cure Laser in an experience sale at an unprecedented and exclusive price
Served on behalf of B Cure Laser
The blue line: the light rail enters King George Street (photo: simulation: transportation master plan)
The Blue Line
: In the past year, promotion work began on several sections of the Blue Line, which will connect Gila and Talfiot in the south of the city, and Ramat Eshkol and the Ramot neighborhood in the north of the city, will stretch over 31 km and include 53 stations. According to the plan, the Blue Line will open in its southern section (Gila - City Center, Givat Hamatos - Malha) in 2028, until its full operation in 2030. The
Blue Line also includes the Purple Corridor, a transverse line that will connect Hadassah Ein Kerem and Kiryat HaSport in Malha, with Gonenim and the industrial area in Talpiot. The line is at the end of the planning process
The Yellow Line:
an exclusive route of 6.5 km from the Old City to Kiryat Museums
.
The western section is in the process of developing detailed planning for dispatch, and the eastern section is in the final stage of initial planning.
The brown line:
16 km from Aterat to the old city. The northern section is in the phase of finalizing preliminary planning and promoting early planning.
Asher Viner tunnel, under the Hebron road (photo: simulation: transportation master plan)
Roads: Towards the opening of two new tunnels
The French Hill intersection:
The tunnels that will pass under the busy intersection, and connect Yigal Yedin Boulevard in two branches to the continuation of Highway 1 to Maale Adumim and Pisgat Ze'ev, are scheduled to open during 2024. For south or northbound travelers, they will save 3 traffic lights, as well as for those coming from the center towards Maale Adumim and the Dead Sea.
The Asher Viner Tunnel:
The work on a level separation that includes a 299-meter tunnel under the busy Hebron Road over which the blue line of the light rail will also pass, and will shorten the way for the residents of Har Huma and Arnona to Talfiot and the Begin road, is nearing completion.
Opening: between July and September this year.
Future tunnels:
The extension of the IDF tunnel was recently approved, but there is still no funding or timetable for implementation. The plan for level separation at the Ora intersection, which is strongly opposed by environmental and transportation organizations, was recently postponed pending the presentation of an environmental review for the project.
Public transport routes
Extending the Interchange on the Begin Road:
Work has begun to extend the public transportation route in both directions, from the Golda Meir intersection to Givat Shaul, which are very busy in the mornings and in the afternoons. The opening is planned for 2026. Interchange on the Ma'ale Adumim
Road: Planning has begun for the route from the A-Zaim checkpoint. Through the Naomi Shemer tunnel until the connection to Bar Lev Boulevard.
Additional shelters are planned on Rehovot Zvi, Meir Gershon and Shmuel Meir.
The entrance to the French Hill Tunnel, a project that also includes the Hana Vesa parking lot for 1,000 cars (Photo: Simulation: Transportation Master Plan)
Park and ride parking lots
At the entrances to Jerusalem, a series of private car parks are being built and promoted, designed to encourage those coming to the city to leave their cars there and continue their journey by public transport, without adding to the traffic congestion and air pollution in the city, as already exist on Mount Herzl and Ammunition Hill.
Nahal Scofus parking lot (French Giva junction):
intended for 1,000 vehicles, adjacent to the Givat Hambatar station of the Red Line.
Will open in 2024.
Beit parking lot:
a parking lot for 2,200 vehicles at the Beit interchange in Givat Mordechai, which will be used by those coming from Route 16. The hole for the parking lot has already been dug, construction of the parking lot itself will soon begin.
Hamed parking lot:
early planning for a parking lot at the entrance to Abu Gush, which in recent years has become a kind of father for public transportation with good connectivity on lines to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and more.
Other parking lots that are currently being promoted:
Gila, on Rosemary Street, for those coming from Gush Etzion and Mzur Hadassah, in Hadassah Ein Kerem and Nahal Og, for those coming from the Valley.
The Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Leon, stated that "in the near future, new lines of the light rail will operate throughout the capital with high frequency and quality service, parking lots will be opened near their stations and the entire public transportation system will be developed - with the aim of promoting accessible, green and advanced transportation in all its neighborhoods. The extensive infrastructure works The ones that are being carried out these days in the city are the ones that will lead us to the transportation vision that is before our eyes, and I welcome the cooperation, long-suffering and patience of the residents."
vehicle
car news
Tags
The light rail in Jerusalem