The work on the expansion of the Jerusalem light rail continues, with the approval of the new Gold Line, which will span approximately 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) and operate between Rabin Blvd. and the Israel Museum.
The Jerusalem Planning & Construction District Committee headed by the Planning Administration, chaired by Amir Shaked, this week decided to advance the plan to establish the Gold Line for the light rail system in the capital. This is a plan that is part of an overall move to develop the mass transit system in Jerusalem.
The route of this leg of the light rail will be in the western part of the light rail system as the eastern part is due to arrive in the Old City and will be a part of a separate plan. The extension connects to the Green Line and the Red Line of the light rail, and it will serve many public institutions and tourist centers. The Gold Line will have three stops; the High Court of Justice, the Knesset and the Israel Museum. It will pass Sussman Street, Kaplan, Weiz and the last stop will be at the Israel Museum. The beginning of the actual construction is set for 2024.
In addition to the new line, it has been decided to advance an underground parking lot at the Israel Museum, and to turn the current Museum parking lot to a city square which will host events and cultural festivals.
The committee noted in its decision that, in contrast to the other lines of the light approved to date, which pass through residential areas, this line passes through the National District, which has a concentration of public-sector institutions and government offices, and it is a center of employment.
In the interim, the committee has begun work to plan a light rail maintenance and operation center (depot) in the Malcha area, which is planned to contain about 103 cars (51 two-car trains) of the light rail system. This will be south of Gilo, between the Begin Highway and Benvenishti Street. The area of the planned depot will be about 72 dunams (18 acres). The plan also includes treatment and restoration of the Nachal Refaim Route that runs alongside the depot, which was previously diverted when the railroad construction took place in the area. Both plans were submitted by the Jerusalem Municipality and initiated by a master plan for transportation.
The Gold Line will join 65 kilometers (40 miles) of light rail already approved for the Red, Green and Blue lines of the system. The light rail currently transports 160,000 passengers daily.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
Oh why not! We’re already the most heavily-taxed homeowners in heavily-taxed Israel. Yerushalayim’s people are also among the poorest anyplace in the country. So why not extend the “Zoo Train” at our expense to better serve tourists and bureaucrats.
Notice that this time they didn’t even bother estimating the cost, which typically triples by the time all the expected over-runs (& payoffs) are accounted for. But that won’t come until actual completion, which is typically several years after the Estimated Completion Date, which they also didn’t bother with .
balashon, they always have the option of moving, after years of overpaying rent people in Brooklyn realized there are other options and move to Monsey, Lakewood, etc
as I see it: If you see Yerushalayim as just another city to live in, I agree. However, if like those of us who actually live there, you want to live in It Hakodesh and be close to God, it’s not an option. We will suffer whatever the dirty zionists throw at us, because as hard as it is, it’s pay of the price of bring close to God.
Yehuda2001, then don’t complain about the high cost of living there,