The Har Nof Minhal or community board is opposed to the planned light rail expansion to the frum Jerusalem neighborhood and it is preparing its objection for the city’s district planning board. The committee is expected to convene to approve the continuation of the Jerusalem light rail from Herzl Boulevard to Kiryat Moshe and Kanfei Nesharim Street to the entrance to Har Nof.

The local council feels the neighborhood would be better served by a shuttle service from the community to Herzl Boulevard, and from there, one may get onto the train and continue. They have reviewed the plan and fear the expansion of the rail service will place their area under siege. For one thing, the lifeline of the Jerusalem neighborhood is the bus service, and while the light rail construction takes place, the number of buses will be reduced significantly. Getting in and out of the community will become even more troublesome than it is today in the long run as well since most of the existing lanes on Kanfei Nesharim Street, the main access road, will be given over to the light rail.

The rail line as the plan reads today, from Har Nof, the light rail will travel towards the Hebrew University campus on Givat Ram and then to the Government Precinct and not towards Shuk Machane Yehuda or city center. The local officials explain few Har Nof residents are interested in heading towards Givat Ram.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)