Yisrael Katz
Photo: Motti Kimchi
Seven new lines for Metrobus in Haifa
The public transportation revolution starts in Haifa; seven new lines at a cost of NIS 2.6 billion promise to make Haifa and its surrounding areas the most accessible in Israel.
Seven more Metrobus lines will be added to the Haifa area in the coming years at a cost of NIS 2.6 billion. These lines will make Haifa and its suburbs into one of the most publically-accessible areas in Israel.
The planned network of public transportation lines will be based on three existing Metrobus lines and on one Carmelit subway and Haifa railcar line.
Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz said, "This is a revolution that will be a model for other cities too." Katz went on to add that the lines will be built according to the BOT method.
Public transit in Haifa (Photo: Ahiya Raved)
The plan is for track extensions of existing Metrobus lines and the establishment of new branches within four years: a Mount Carmel line, Hof HaCarmel Regional line, Neve Sha'anan line, and the extending of a line to Tirat HaCarmel by 2018. According to forecasts, these lines will support 1.2 million daily trips, with 40% being in the city of Haifa, 20% in surrounding suburbs, and 15% between Haifa and its suburbs.
The new metropolitan lines will be facilitated by the Ministry of Transportation and the companyy Yefenof ("beautiful view"), which set up the three existing Metrobus lines. Metrobus, the advanced public transportation system of Metropoline Haifa, began operations three years ago. It is based on modern and spacious multi-capacity vehicles, which allow for a quick trip to Haifa. Many already see Metrobus as a success story. In the last year, Metrobus registered 30 million trips, with more than 2 million passengers a month, and 85,000 trips per day.
The Metrobus system is composed of about 40-kilometers worth of lines, which connect Haifa and the bay area. The first north of the suburbs via Route 4 and Haifa downtown until HaCarmel Beach. The second goes from Kiryat Atta to the Bat Galim terminal via the Histadrut Boulevard and downtown Haifa. The third goes from Kiryat Yam and Kiryat Hayim to Hadar in Haifa.
