After years of planning, delays, and construction across the city, Jerusalem is about to undergo one of the greatest transportation revolutions in its history.
This weekend, the first segment of the Jerusalem Light Rail's Green Line (L3) will commence operations, connecting the city center to the Malcha neighborhood in the southwest of the capital. The launch will change Jerusalem's transportation map, making it the first city in Israel to have an intersecting light rail network.
The new segment is approximately 7 kilometers (4 miles) long and includes 12 new stops, in addition to a transfer stop shared with the Red Line. The line will pass the city's main employment, government, and education centers, including the International Convention Center, the Governmental Campus, Hebrew University Givat Ram Campus, the Botanical Gardens, the Givat Mordechai neighborhood, Lev Academic Center, the Tennis Center, Teddy Stadium, Pais Arena, and the Malcha Mall.
Transport authorities hope the new line will ease the heavy congestion on the Red Line, which recently surpassed 4.6 million passengers per month, and provide a faster, more convenient alternative to private vehicles.
Initially, the trains will operate every 12 to 15 minutes. Following the initial operating period, frequency is expected to improve to one train every 8 to 10 minutes during peak hours.
However, behind the significant news lies the disappointment of thousands of sports fans and concertgoers. Despite one of the new stations being next to the Teddy Stadium and Pais Arena, it will not operate during major events. Due to security and crowd control concerns, the station will close during major sporting events and concerts, and passengers will be diverted on foot to nearby stations, primarily Malha Mall Station.
The road leading to the opening of the new line was long and difficult. The project, which was planned over a decade ago, was postponed time and again due to the war in Gaza, security tensions, and staffing and supply shortages, among other issues, causing significant delays to its execution.
Even now, challenges persist. The northern segment of the Green Line, which passes through the predominantly haredi Bar Ilan Junction area, has to contend with constant riots, infrastructure damage, and attacks on staff by extremists. Project officials evaluate the damage caused so far at hundreds of millions of shekels and continue to delay the project's progress.
Nevertheless, the Transportation Ministry and the Jerusalem Transportation Master Plan team remain optimistic. According to them, the opening of the Green Line is only the first stage, and in the coming years Jerusalem is expected to complete an extensive light rail network connecting the city’s neighborhoods, government institutions, employment centers, educational institutions, and cultural and leisure hubs.
Unless there is a last-minute change, the new line is scheduled to officially begin operating this Friday, another step toward transforming Jerusalem’s public transportation system.