New Fast Lanes Open in Rishon LeZion, Offering Free Parking and Shuttles

Nethivei Yulon and Nativ La'ir announced the opening of a new fast lane complex in Rishon LeZion to the public starting Sunday. The complex will offer free parking and frequent shuttle buses to Tel Aviv, departing every five minutes. Initially, only shuttles and public transportation will be permitted on these lanes, with plans to open them for high-occupancy vehicles (3+) by 2027. This facility, located southeast of Rishon LeZion near the Shafdan wastewater treatment plant, is the second of its kind after the Shfayim complex and the third fast lane system in Israel, following the one on Highway 1.

The project aims to reduce traffic congestion in the Gush Dan area by allowing drivers arriving from the south to park their cars for free and utilize rapid public transportation to bypass traffic jams. The Rishon LeZion complex features approximately 3,500 free parking spaces, 350 charging stations for electric vehicles, and 500 bicycle parking spots. It will also include amenities like restrooms and a coffee stand.

Four free shuttle lines will operate from the complex to key locations in Tel Aviv, including the Kirya, Sarona, Azrieli Center, the Bourse area, Savidor Center Station, and the intersection of Begin and HaMesger streets. These shuttles will run Sunday to Thursday from 6:00 AM to 10:45 PM, with higher frequency during peak hours (every 5 minutes) and less frequent service at other times (every 15 minutes).

The fast lane project is a concessionary operation managed jointly by the government company Nethivei Yulon and the private concessionaire Nativ La'ir. The estimated NIS 8 billion cost is shared between the state and the concessionaire under a PPP agreement. Nativ La'ir will collect tolls from private vehicles during off-peak hours when speeds exceed 70 km/h, aiming to recoup their investment over a 14-year concession period, after which the facility will revert to state control.

Transportation experts have raised concerns about the project, with Sivan Shmuelovitch, CEO of the public transportation organization 15 Minutes, criticizing it as an expensive investment that encourages private car use rather than enhancing public transport. She argued that the primary users are car owners in central cities who already have access to public transit, questioning the rationale for subsidizing shuttles that contribute to pollution and congestion instead of improving existing bus and train services.