Israel Approves Tender for New Metro-bus Electric Transit Network

Israel's Public Transport Authority has approved the publication of a tender for an operator of a new high-speed electric bus network, dubbed "Metro-bus," in the HaShfela region. The network is set to connect Kiryat Ekron, Rehovot, Ness Ziona, Rishon LeZion, and Tel Aviv, with an estimated daily ridership of 110,000 passengers. The ten-year contract is valued at 2.5 billion shekels.

The "Metro-bus" system, currently operating in Haifa and its suburbs, utilizes articulated buses on dedicated lanes. Infrastructure work, managed by "Netivei Ayalon," is slated to begin in 2025, with a phased launch of the system expected from mid-2028. The network will span 30 kilometers.

Initially, the system will feature two "blue line" routes and a western section of a "brown line." The blue lines will run from the BILO terminal to Rehovot and to the "Shapirim" parking lot. The brown line's western section will connect the Tzrifin terminal to the "Ha'Elef" complex in western Rishon LeZion. Future plans include an eastern section of the brown line, additional routes, and expanded existing public transport lines. The combined weekly mileage for the electric buses and supplementary routes is projected at 216,000 kilometers.

Buses will operate on dedicated public transport lanes, with traffic lights to be prioritized at intersections. Following criticism over delays in selecting a transport model, the tender will not specify a bus model. Instead, the winning operator must provide vehicles meeting tender requirements, necessitating prior agreements with electric bus manufacturers. Notably, the project plans to introduce 24-meter-long double electric buses, a model currently in a pilot program in Haifa.

The tender includes an annual allocation of 40 million shekels for service quality improvements, with the winning bidder required to invest a comparable sum. Service enhancements will be decided with public and local authority input. The winning company must also present three bus design options for public and municipal selection. The system's full operation is anticipated by 2029, with test runs and the initial launch of the blue line and the western brown line section scheduled for 2028.