Israel Railways has set up a special team to assess how to
connect Modi'in Illit to the new rail line slated to reach
the Modi'in area. The arrangements were finalized in a
meeting between City Council Chairman Rabbi Yaakov Guterman
and ranking Israel Railways officials. Representatives
selected by the Modi'in Illit Council will also be included
on the assessment team.
The goal of the meeting was to address the severe strain on
the public transportation system in Modi'in Illit, as in
other chareidi areas, on Friday afternoons and before
holidays. Rabbi Guterman provided an overview of Modi'in
Illit's development, stressing the importance of connecting
the town to the Israel Railways system since according to the
master plan the city is designed to accommodate up to 150,000
residents--nearly six times the current population of
27,000.
He also spoke of the heavy use of public transportation among
Modi'in Illit residents, who own relatively few cars
according to Central Bureau for Statistics figures. Every day
buses run from early in the morning until late at night, and
on Erev Shabbos and Erev Chag the bus company is unable to
handle the pressure. "Connecting the train to Modi'in Illit
would be an economically profitable move for Israel Railways
and our residents would also benefit," said Rabbi
Guterman.
City Engineer Aryeh Pe'er noted the need to extend the
railway lines to Modi'in Illit in order to avoid the
unnecessary transfer to Modi'in. Later, Architect Giora Tzur
presented the city's master plan and development plans,
emphasizing the strain on the existing public transportation
system. He also indicated a location designated for the
construction of a railway station.
Various railway experts discussed possible connections,
noting the distance of four kilometers separating Modi'in and
Modi'in Illit. At the end of the meeting Deputy Director
Eliya Walcove decided to set up the joint assessment team
charged with the task of recommending the optimal solution
for incorporating Modi'in Illit in the plans for the new rail
lines.
The team will evaluate several options for various rail lines
that would feed into the central station in Modi'in as well
as an alternative plan to build a light rail line into the
station.
