Jerusalem's Local Planning and Construction Committee, headed
by Deputy Mayor Rabbi Yehoshua Pollack, approved extending to
Neve Yaakov the first line of the light rail transport
system. This 1.7-mile extension will provide service to an
additional 20,000 residents living in the city's northern
neighborhoods, improving their access to jobs, places of
study and shopping.
The decision followed efforts by Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky
and the Minister of Transportation. Mayor Lupoliansky praised
the project directors' positive response to the request
saying, "It is important to us to provide this essential
service to neighborhoods like Neve Yaakov where the
percentage of public transportation users is high."
The matter will now be passed on to the District Planning and
Construction Committee for further deliberation. Once it
grants approval negotiations will commence between the
government and the franchise winner, City Pass, on expanding
the project.
The Local Committee is also scheduled to consider a request
to extend the light rail system to Hadassah Ein-Karem
Hospital. Such an extension would serve residents of Kiryat
Yovel and Kiryat Menachem in addition to the hundreds of
thousands of people who visit the hospital. If this request
is also approved the length of the line will come to 14
miles. The Mayor said connecting Jerusalem's largest hospital
to the light-rail system in the initial stages is of great
importance due to the central role the hospital plays in the
city.
Financial arrangements between the government and the City
Pass Group are currently being finalized in order to meet the
work timetable and to have the central segment of the first
line from Pisgat Ze'ev to Har Herzl operating in 2007. The
preparation and infrastructure work is about to be completed
and once the financial arrangements are settled the tracks
will begin to be laid within a few months.
