The increase in the number of passengers using the Tel Aviv fast lane shuttle bus is continuing, according to figures for the first quarter of 2012, which were obtained by "Globes". The shuttle carried an average of 1,750 passengers a day during the first quarter, up from 1,500 a day during the fourth quarter of 2011.
However, the increase in the number of people opting to use the toll fast lane into the city was unchanged at 7,200-7,500 a day during the first quarter. The number of people car pooling (cars carrying at least four people can use the toll lane for free) was also unchanged.
Fast lane franchisee Shafir Civil and Marine Engineering Ltd. hopes to begin operating a third shuttle route from the fast lane's parking lot to Rothschild Boulevard and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange within days. Additional routes, such as to Tel Aviv's high-tech area, Kiryat Atidim, are dependent on expansion of the parking lot, which is already close to capacity.
The government plans to double the number of parking places to 4,000 by building an underground parking garage at a cost of NIS 100 million. The project has already been approved, and it can be built within 18 months from the go-ahead. Under the franchise agreement, the government pays Shafir NIS 12 per car that parks in the 60-dunam (15-acre) parking lot.
Shafir won the BOT tender to build the fast lane and operate through 2036, with a bid of NIS 180 million. The other bidders demanded payment from the state.
Shafir is planning a gas station and other services at the parking lot, which will boost its revenue from the project. The construction is part of the franchise. The gas station will be the first to operate on Road 1 (the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway) between Tel Aviv and Shaar Hagai. The project is waiting for approval by the regional planning and building commission. Shafir is not at present in talks for the operation of the gas station, although both Paz Oil Company Ltd. (TASE:PZOL) and Delek Israel Fuel Corporation Ltd. (TASE: DLKIS) have expressed interest in it.
Deal with Better Place
Shafir has also reached an agreement with electric car venture Better Place LLC to set up a battery replacement station with ten battery recharging points as well at the parking lot. This project is waiting for approval of Cross Israel Highway Ltd., the regulator of the fast lane project.
A train station is also due to be built at the parking lot, but its construction has been delayed until the consent of residents of Kfar Habad is reached on the closing of the current train station by the village, which is a few hundreds meters from the planned station. Sources inform ''Globes'' that residents of Kfar Habad and the Emek Lod Regional Council want shuttle services for Kfar Habad and Moshav Tzfaria to the new train station in exchange for their agreement to closure of the current station.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 23,