According to Jerusalem Post news reports, this week marked the beginning of construction on the Blue Line of the light rail, which will extend along the Hebron Road axis. This major project will feature 31 kilometers of tracks, including 2.5 kilometers underground, and 53 stations. Scheduled to begin operation within the next five years, the Blue Line will have three routes—Gilo-Ramot, Malha-Mount Scopus, and Hadassah Ein Kerem-Talpiot—serving approximately 250,000 passengers daily.
With 75 kilometers of planned light rail tracks, Jerusalem is poised to become one of Israel’s most advanced cities in terms of transportation, facilitating the urban renewal and development that the capital has experienced in recent years. This expansion offers an opportunity to construct numerous high-rise buildings along the light rail routes, a strategy the Jerusalem Municipality is keen to leverage.
The city's policy to intensify construction along the light rail corridors includes plans for thousands of new housing units and extensive commercial and employment spaces adjacent to the transit network. Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion emphasized that "the light rail network will enhance connectivity across the city, alleviate traffic congestion, promote urban renewal and economic growth, and make Jerusalem more pedestrian and bike-friendly."
Additionally, the extension of the Red Line is nearing completion, which will provide continuous travel from the Neve Yaakov neighborhood in the north to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in the south. The Green Line, connecting Gilo to French Hill, is also in the final stages of construction.
The Red Line, a critical component of the city’s new transportation network, represents a significant step in this transformative development. The light rail in Jerusalem, operational for over a decade with around 180,000 daily rides, is being extended to additional city locations as the municipality focuses on enhancing public transportation systems.
This growth necessitates vertical expansion. As Jerusalem balances historical preservation with green space conservation, city planners have identified strategic areas for high-rise construction, mainly along the light rail routes and city entrances. Building upwards optimizes land use, reduces the impact on open spaces, and helps preserve natural resources.
