Late at night, the Knesset approved the Metro Law, which was intended to promote the construction of a metro system (a deep and serious subway system) in Gush Dan. This is a first-rate transportation project, and the most strategic project in question now in the State of Israel – when it comes to the work of decades at a cost of at least 150 billion NIS, which will not see fruit until at least 2040. However, this is a critical effort, because Gush Dan is expected to become even more crowded in the coming years, the traffic is expected to worsen, and this will take a lot of time from many passengers and buses (according to estimates, the traffic jams cost the Israeli economy tens of billions of shekels a year). A well-developed and branched transportation system is needed, which will turn the traffic jams into an old problem.
The law essentially defines the metro as a project of national importance, thus eliminating the project from the problems related to the enormous scope of the project, which will be conducted in 24 different municipalities and local councils, each with different building regulations, different forms and unique guidelines; the law raises the project above the level of authority, making it more effective and faster. In addition, the law gives priority to the metro project against any other contracting project in the various construction areas.
The Metro Law was first drafted two years ago, at the end of the previous Knesset, but did not pass before the Knesset was dissolved due to disagreements between the coalition and the opposition. The new transport minister, Miri Regev, did not hide her position on the lesser importance of the metro compared to transportation projects in the periphery (such as “transportation justice” or railways to the north and south), and it can be said that the law has now passed in a kind of “overcoming” move by Finance Minister Smotrich on Regev.
The metro is expected to have three lines with 109 stations, and is expected to complete the transportation system of Gush Dan together with the continuation of the construction of the light rail. The lines are expected to connect all the cities of Gush Dan, from Rehovot to Kfar Saba, and is expected to be used by 2 million people every day.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich referred to the legislation and said: “The approval of the Metro Law is an important step for the State of Israel. We are taking a huge step today to strengthen the transportation system in Israel – a move that will clearly support and strengthen the Israeli economy. Thank you to all the partners who helped pass the law. We will continue to act and strengthen the Israeli economy and its infrastructures in a way that will continue to position Israel in the front row of the developed countries in the world.”
