TENDERS are to be called within three months for construction of the first light rail line in Tel Aviv, following the signing of an agreement between the promoter NTA Metropolitan Mass Transit System Ltd, the Municipality of Tel Aviv, and the Israeli government on July 23. The accord was signed by Finance Minister Beiga Shochati, Transport Ministry General Manager Ben-Zion Salman and Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Haldai.
The first tender will cover the 21 km Red line from Peta Tikva to Bat Yam via Jabitinsky road, Hameslia and Jaffa. Around 7 km between Peta Tikva and Jaffa will be in cut-and-cover tunnel. The line is to be built for light rail operation with overhead power supply, but the alignment will be designed for future upgrading to heavy metro standards.
As well as the end-to-end operation, a shuttle is planned from Geha to Beit-Hadar to provide a more intensive service on the central core. Peak headways would be 3min on the main line and 90sec in the city centre. Interchange with Israel Railways' main line and suburban services will be provided at Savidor.
A second Green line is still in the planning stage, which would run from Savidor station and run west along Arlosorff street to connect with the Red line at Beit Hadar before heading south to Holon and Rishon-le-Zion.
Costed at USS41·25bn, the network is to be built under a BOT concession. Following the bidding process, work is to start within two years, with the Red line to be completed by 2008.
