The Minister of Transport, Yisrael Katz, gave the go ahead for the construction of the light rail to Ariel settlements. Netivei Israel (National Transport Infrastructure Company) will construct the NIS 4 billion (USD 1.15 billion) project, which will connect Ariel, Rosh HaAyin, and Petah Tikva. Minister Katz asked Netivei Israel to assemble a planning team for the light rail project to Samaria.
According to the plans, the new light rail line will roll through the northern West Bank upon its completion in 2025.
The railway to Ariel is designed to relieve the traffic jams in the region and shorten the travel time from Ariel to central Israel. „Most Ariel residents work along the railway route and in the Barkan industrial zone. The light rail will enable them to reach their place of employment, shopping centers, and places of entertainment quickly and safely,” the Israeli Transport Minister said when announcing the new rail project. The light rail tracks will be separate from the main traffic arteries, and will optimally serve the transport needs in the area.
The project is currently in the planning stages. Three alternatives routes are under consideration for the line. The Ministry of Transport’s currently preferred plan is to connect the light rail with the railway in Rosh HaAyin and the Petah Tikva railway station. In this alternative, Rosh HaAyin will also be connected to the Tel Aviv Light light rail Red Line. This alternative is 29 kilometers long.
The second alternative connects Ariel and the eastern Rosh HaAyin interchange. West of the interchange, this route is the same as in the first alternative. The route continues west from there parallel to the Israel Railways track, with stations in Segula and Kiryat Arie. The route ends in western Kiryat Arie, and will connected to the Red Line. This 35.5-kilometer route crosses a number of local authorities, including Ariel, Rosh HaAyin, Kfar Kassem, Drom Hasharon, and Petah Tikva.
The third alternative is Ariel-Sirkin-Petah Tikva Central Bus Station, where it also meets the Red Line. The 34-kilometer route, which crosses a number of local authorities, including Ariel, Rosh HaAyin, Drom Hasharon, and Petah Tikva, is composed of three main sections.
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