Tel Aviv Central Bus Station Set for Closure After Decades

A joint committee of the Israeli Knesset's Education, Culture, and Sports Committee and Interior and Environmental Protection Committee has approved a change in land use for part of the Mikveh Israel agricultural school grounds. This decision paves the way for the construction of an alternative public transportation terminal to replace Tel Aviv's aging Central Bus Station, which has been in operation for decades.

The new terminal will be located north of Highway 44 on a 134-dunam site, with approximately 41 dunams dedicated to the facility itself. It is designed to accommodate about 60% of the current activity at the Central Bus Station and will serve as an interim solution until a permanent facility is established at the Ben Tzvi complex in Holon. The plan also includes a night parking area and operational facilities necessary for public transport.

The project incorporates environmental assessments to prevent air and soil pollution and facilitate land rehabilitation post-use. Furthermore, the terminal will be equipped to charge electric buses, preparing for the full electrification of the public transport fleet in the region. The approval was granted under a special law pertaining to the Mikveh Israel lands, requiring specific authorization for land use changes.

During the discussion, approval was also given for a subterranean drainage conduit as part of the "Ayalon Stream to the Sea" project, covering no more than 20 dunams north of Highway 44. This drainage project aims to improve flood risk management in the Gush Dan region. Transportation Minister Miri Regev stated that the approval is a significant step towards a crucial transportation solution for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and the evacuation of the Central Bus Station, promising a more advanced, efficient, and accessible public transport system. Transportation Ministry Director General Moshe Ben Zaken called it an important milestone in the complex process of relocating the station.