Work on the first line of the forthcoming light rail the Red Line has barely begun and yet objections to future lines are already piling up. At a Wednesday hearing hosted by the National Infrastructure Planning Committee (VATAL), the Tel Aviv municipality presented dozens of objections to the Green and Purple lines.
The metropolitan officials claimed the lands will be appropriated without compensation to residents and without a mechanism to assure the building rights will not be transferred; the acres of land required to prepare for the construction are destroying the public parks; the current plans do not account for incorporating with other public transportation modes; and, the plans do not integrate with the development outline for the city.
The municipality demanded that all its objections be addressed. Any further objections could be filed until next month.
The Green Line is expected to connect the metropolitan’s southern reaches (Holon and the outskirts of Rishon LeZion) and northern suburb (Herzliya) to the city center. It will be the longest of the eight lines planned by NTA 39 kilometers, including 4.5 kilometers underground.
The Purple Line will serve to connect the eastern outskirts of the metropolitan to the center it will measure 28 kilometers when completed. As revealed by “Globes” in August, NTA plans to close wide swaths of land in Tel Aviv to prepare for the construction of the Green Line: approximately 13.5 acres over six central sites, including HaYarkon Park, Rabin Square, and Levinksy Garden.
The preparatory work for the Purple Line is similarly expected to affect public parks across the city, including HaKovshim Garden and HaTikva Garden.
The Tel Aviv municipality said the work areas must be cut down, alternative areas should be considered that cause minimal damage to public parks, and an environmental impact study be conducted.
One of the city’s central objections revolves around the appropriation of land along the routes. For example, NTA plans to appropriate all the lawns of buildings on Arlozorov Street. The municipality demanded a solution is found to properly compensate residents and assurances are provided the building rights for the land will not be transferred to NTA.
The city further said the existing plans will hurt the existing public transportation.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 28, 2016
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