Development of the fast rail link (A1) between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem will double the number of passengers travelling by rail between the two cities at peak hours from 14,000 today to 28,000. The figures are contained in an opinion prepared for Israel Railways and given to Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat, in advance of the decisive session of the planning sub-committee on the approval of the route for the line.
The opinion, prepared by Gal Tichnun Ma'arachot Urbaniyot, states that operating the fast link will lead to a saving of 20,000 hours per day in journeys by road vehicles, which will ease traffic congestion.
The opinion also says that the line will help to stem migration from Jerusalem thanks to the improvement in the accessibility of centers of employment. It claims that the line will reduce air pollution nationally by 0.5%, as a result of lower use of private vehicles.
Tomorrow, the sub-committee is due to hear objections to the final route plan for the new rail line, in particular objections by environmental organizations to the bridge planned over the Yitleh stream. The environmentalists are demanding that the route should be via a tunnel, to minimize environmental damage to an area of natural beauty, but Israel Railways says that any change in the route will delay the project for years.
The sub-committee's recommendation will carry decisive weight in the final discussion on approval for the route in the Israel National Council for Planning and Construction, probably in August.
Meanwhile, Israel Railways continues to make progress on other sections of the fast rail link, and today it published the tender for planning and erecting a bridge in the Arazim Park area, as part of the construction of section D of the line from Mevasseret Zion to Jerusalem. The tender is estimated to be worth NIS 140-150 million.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on June 22, 2009
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