Gondola cable car from the Check Post to the Technion in Haifa

A cable car from the check-post to the Technion and the university: a transport connection - or a planning brief?

A. Mizrachi cable car with thinking first and not with excuses at the end

The Mizrachi cable car program has already won praise and even awards, even before a single car
carried in the air This is the way of exotic projects that capture the imagination, but distance
us from the ground of reality and more practical solutions. It seems strange that it is movement
Yeroka finds fault with a transportation project whose entire purpose is to move traffic from a private vehicle
polluting, for environmentally friendly public transport.
However, the greens are not captive to a naive environmental perception, but know how to examine responsibly
And professionally the full picture in all its aspects: transportation, urban, environmental, and above all
economic. Such a test is good to be carried out by an independent external party, and not by the project promoters,
The managers of "Yafa-Nof" are captivated by his charms, and cannot refer to him objectively.

B. From an optimistic forecast to a pessimistic reality

A forecast prepared by "Yafa-Nof" for the year 1995, observed 1133 passengers during
Peak, in the section between the check-post and the Technion. However, in 2000 a similar forecast was made for
The Technion, by "Taskir" Ltd. from Tel Aviv, and it saw only 410 to 500 passengers
At peak time, which is only about 40% of the "Yafa-Nof" forecast! The Technion did not ask for predictions about
the line to the university, but it can be assumed that a similar gap would have been revealed, in percentages,
between the two predictions. Since also according to the more optimistic forecast, of "Yapa-Nof", the project
It is marginal from an economic point of view, the question arises as to how worthwhile it is, if at all, in the event
That the forecast prepared by the Technion will match?
Economic viability is not based only on the establishment expenses, which may be generously subsidized by
The Ministry of Transportation from any other budgetary source outside the municipality. in the future operating expenses
and the maintenance will fall as a burden, direct or indirect, on the municipality, as are the expenses of the Carmelite and Cable Car
Stella-Maris. Are we missing budgetary millstones? The missing are white elephants
Like the Hall of Congress? Did we learn nothing from the marina adventure?

Even if we adopt the optimistic forecast of "Yafa-Nof" regarding peak time, what will happen
In the low hours? Isn't the most tired student, who is late to get up in the morning, end up arriving on campus
until nine And what will be on the cable car during the rest of the day, on weekends and holidays, and on vacations
the semester? There will always be passengers, but is that enough to make the project economical?

In this context, it is worth mentioning the forecast prepared on behalf of "Yafa-Nof" as a basis for the major renovation of
The Carmel several years ago, and amounted to 20,000 passengers per day! In practice, it is doubtful whether they arrive
10% of this forecast... In an article in the Haaretz newspaper dated October 26.10.95, XNUMX, it was stated that the management of the Carmelite
She instructed her legal advisor to consider a lawsuit against the authors of the economic viability survey
of the restoration of the Carmel. The chairman of the corporation, Adv. Avi Goldhamer, referred to the "gross mistakes
In assessing the number of daily passengers, which caused the company great losses." I do not propose to stop
the operation of the Carmelite, which is essential and justifies a subsidy, and would also reach profitability,
If not for the Kiryat Hamlet parking lot, which tempts Baya to come by car. As a result, the parking lot is full.
And the Carmelite is empty, and I was also aware of that in advance, not in retrospect. But unlike Carmelite,
The check-post cable car is still on paper, and you can still leave it there...

third. A science park at the expense of green space? You don't have to be a scientist to object

In the municipal council discussion, the mayor patiently addressed the doubts I raised as detailed above,
And he explained: "The cable car will not only serve the Technion and the university. We are promoting a big plan
A science park is shared by both campuses, in the area between them. The execution of the cable car will promote the program
The science park, and the park will provide financial viability to the cable car." The mayor's plan is not extravagant
the doubts, because you turn them into real opposition. What sane person would sign a plan
To eliminate the highest quality green lung we have left in Haifa? As essential as this area is
From an environmental point of view, yes it is unsuitable for development and construction, not even under the impressive title
A "science park", which defeats itself, because no real and valuable scientist would lend his hand to the plan
This Noel. The area is extremely problematic topographically. The construction will require serpentine roads,
Huge excavation and filling works, and huge retaining walls. The terrible wound on the Stella-Maris slope
which was cut for the establishment of a "Zhizaf" school, will be dwarfed by the destruction of the green space between the campuses.
At the end of the day, and at the end of quarries, very little net space will be left for the park itself.
At the time, better alternatives were proposed for the location of the science park. North of the Technion along Lahi road, O
on the territory of the quarry in a way that would allow for its rehabilitation instead of the opening of a new "quarry". Although space
This is within the scope of the city of Nesher, but if Haifa sees itself as a metropolis, it must also behave
Accordingly, and initiate cooperation with its neighbors, instead of quarreling with them over government subsidies...
More science and technology parks are currently being planned - near the bay crossings, on the outskirts
Kishon Park, and in southern Haifa. The Egged compound in Bat Galim, nearby, can also be converted to this purpose
For the program of the Rambam Hospital and Medical School, with an excellent rail connection to the MTM and the whole country. You can
Also, for that matter, build a multi-story tower in the Technion area above the central parking lot, and/or above the roof
the breadth of the university library, since geographical proximity to the campuses is not necessary,
And accessibility today is more electromagnetic, and less physical.

d. Nevertheless, yes to the cable car... on the right route!

In principle, the cable car is an advanced and efficient means of public transportation, provided it is built on the right route.
It is doubtful if any of us has ever been stuck in a traffic jam between the check-post and the Technion and the university, on Dori road.
It is also doubtful if any of us has not experienced the Freud-Horv traffic jam, which clogs half a city and shuts down a neighborhood
Ramat Eshkol every evening. Let no one deceive himself and us, as if going down from Kabir to the shore would bring him down
One car from Freud Caravans. Let's not exaggerate the expected contribution of the Carmel tunnels to the solution either
the problem Who will travel from Ramat Golda or Ramat Almogi to the east, to the middle opening of the tunnels near
The Grand Canyon, to then travel through the tunnel to the west, and for a fee? Also Nahal Ovadia and Nahal Nadar
Get off the episode. There is no justification for investing huge sums, and damaging the landscape values ​​and the quality of life in the neighborhoods
near them, and to encourage travel by private car, contrary to the declared national policy, as well as the international one...
On the Carmel Ridge, more residential neighborhoods have been built in recent years, and are expected to be added and built
thousands of housing units. On the coastal plain, many employment and commercial projects have been established, and more are expected to be established.
Leisure culture, Kiryat Sport, Kiryat Shinoch, a new residential district in southern Haifa, the train station
And the buses, and the beach that was always there. These two traffic generators - the ridge neighborhoods above,
And the areas of activity below, guarantee economic viability for the cable car on this route. For the truth of the matter
My initiative was examined in a preliminary way by "Yafa-Nof", and the feasibility of the proposed route was found. This is not enough to receive
An operative decision, but there is and there is reason to justify feasibility surveys, and more advanced planning. In my opinion
Their conclusion will be unequivocal: between the two cable cars, the eastern and the western, the western cable car
More essential, more economical, and more urgent!

System note live here: Car Letzek Post - Image courtesy of Haifa Municipality