If you ask Yerushalmim, most will agree, that they feel someone(s) made lots of money on the never-ending Jerusalem light rail project, which has brought disaster to downtown Jerusalem over the past years. The project is one of the super projects approved during the tenure of Ehud Olmert, as mayor of the city. Another noteworthy project is the Chords Bridge, which made the news following the 2008 dedication ceremony, after engineers learned that the monstrosity that cost NIS hundreds of millions cannot support the light rail, for which is was constructed. Officials report that since engineers came to the realization, repairs have been made.

In a letter to Ziva Agami, who heads Israel Police’s National Fraud Investigations Unit, Jerusalem Councilwoman Yael Entebbe is calling for a full scale investigation into possible fraudulent activity tied to the light rail. She explains that since September 2009, she is no longer in charge of the city’s transportation portfolio after obtaining an awareness she is powerless to act regarding the “irresponsible and wasteful decisions” made, and therefore, she is unable to assist residents.

She explains the state gave a guarantee to the operator of the light rail system of a minimum number of riders for the first 15 years. Should ridership prove to be lower, the state will have to pay the difference. She explains “we are dealing in millions”, questioning what exactly brought officials to agree to such an absurd clause for such an extended period of time.

She feels that in addition to dissatisfaction with the bus transportation system, ridership predictions erred optimistically. In addition, she questions the budgetary allocations, NIS billions that have been and will be spent in the future. She asks rhetorically that the real question is if the light rail is the correct solution for Jerusalem, to which we know the response to be ‘no’.

Entebbe also goes on to address the security issue, reminding the senior police official of the days when buses were rerouted to avoid areas where Arab threw rocks. “Such changes will not be realistic once the rail is operational” she points out; inserting a reminder the train will be passing areas such as Shuafat.

She points out many senior officials in City Hall were part of the decision-making process, which paralleled the Holyland project now under investigation. Entebbe suggests looking in the direction of the treasury and the Ministry of Transportation as well, not to mention the relevant officials in Jerusalem City Hall.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)