The Gulf Center will double in size and become the largest transportation center in Israel

The Gulf Center, the main transportation center of the North, will double its size and become the largest integrated transportation center in Israel and one of the largest in the Middle East.

On Monday 5/8/24, the National Committee for the Planning and Construction of National Infrastructures (VTL) gave the green light to the Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety to advance a plan to expand the Central Gulf Transportation Center in Haifa and turn it into the largest integrated transportation center (IMC) in Israel and one of the largest in the Middle East.

The vision of the "Fathers" of the Minister of Transportation and Road Safety, Miri Regev, is moving forward, with the approval to prepare a plan for the expansion of the "Gulf Center" transportation center that connects a wide variety of means of transportation, serving all residents of the Haifa metropolis and the north of the country.

The program (TTL 185 - Lev Hamfaretz Complex) is part of a national master plan for infrastructure facilities for the operation of bus transportation for the year 2040, within the framework of which three plans have been approved so far, including 19 integrated transportation complexes (complexes) in the Tel Aviv metropolis, and dozens more are being promoted. Additional water throughout the country.

The uniqueness of the current program is that it deals with a single transit station, due to its size and uniqueness. The Gulf Central transit station is already today the largest and busiest transportation center in Israel, connecting a particularly large variety of means of transportation and serving a very wide area. As part of the plan, the area of ​​the camp will increase from 20 dunams today to 45 dunams.

The expansion of the central Gulf parking lot is urgently needed, in order to allow it to function effectively in the face of growing demand. Among other things, an operational parking lot, an overnight parking lot, and a "Hana Vesa" parking lot will be added to the center on its northern side. As part of the planning process, an examination of the future program needed for the parking lot will be carried out, while Consideration of the planned development in Haifa Bay, which includes the addition of millions of square meters of commercial, employment, residential and leisure space within the TMA 75 plan.

Minister of Transportation and Road Safety Brigadier General Miri Regev:

Giving the green light to the promotion of a plan to double the integrated transportation center in the Gulf Center in Haifa is an important step in realizing the public transportation vision that I am promoting, in which we connect Israel through a network of advanced transportation centers, the 'fathers', that offer full connectivity and connectivity. Through these 'fathers', in the coming years we will already be able to offer all residents of the State of Israel the possibility to leave their private car at home or in the parking lot, and arrive by advanced and convenient public transportation to the Hafcem district - for work, shopping, and educational, medical and cultural centers, as is customary in the world's leading cities.

The Gulf Center began operating in 2002, and serves as the largest transportation center in Israel, where about 30 passengers pass through it a day. 75 bus lines operate in the complex, making approximately 4,500 trips per day, as well as 4 subway lines, the Israel Railways' Coastal and Valley Railroad, and the cable car that goes directly to the Technion and the University.

In the near future, the 'Scenic' light rail line to Nazareth is also planned to operate in the complex. Also, additional Metro lines are planned, and a bicycle path as part of the 'Metrofan' program, which includes 25 kilometers of bicycle paths connecting all parts of Haifa. A metropolitan traffic management center will also be established in Tehamam.

The Heart of the Gulf complex plan is, as mentioned, part of a national master plan for infrastructure facilities for the operation of bus transportation for the year 2040, which was prepared by the Ministry of Transportation through the Ayalon Routes Company, and which is based on a national strategic plan for the development of public transportation.

In this plan, the Ministry of Transportation set a goal of a split between private vehicles and public transportation in a ratio of 60% for private vehicles and 40% for public transportation by the year 2040. In the past year, 853 million trips were made in Israel by public transportation, of which 87% were by buses - about 740 million. The plan is based on the assumption that even after the operation of the mass transportation systems established and planned today, such as the light rail and the metro, the buses will continue to serve as the most significant layer of public transportation.

A key element in making the public transportation system more efficient and attractive is connectivity. In order to allow for optimal connectivity and connectivity, the establishment of the 'Havim', integrated transportation terminals (tama'im) where different means of transportation such as train, light rail, and bus terminals meet, along with easy accessibility by private vehicle ("Hanna and Sae"), by bicycle, by means of light transportation, and on foot .

Today there is a severe shortage of parking lots and other infrastructure facilities such as overnight parking lots, especially in metropolitan areas. That is why Transportation Minister Miri Regev is promoting a large-scale plan to establish new infrastructure facilities nationwide and near the centers of demand, including employment, education, health and leisure centers. The parking lots will operate within Coordination of times between the various means of transportation and a convenient and quick transition between them, and commercial and real estate development in the immediate vicinity. Other important components of the "Hav" are a bus parking lot with electric charging stations, a maintenance and care area, and places to rest and refresh for drivers.

Director General of the Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety, Moshe Ben Zaken:

The Gulf Central terminal represents the vision of Minister Regev, where all means of transportation connect in one place, with fast and convenient transitions between them. Residents of Haifa and the north will have a variety of bus lines, metro lines, light and heavy rail, and even a cable car, with easy access by private car, bicycle and micromobility, all with optimal connections and connectivity. This is what the future of transportation in Israel will look like, and this is just the beginning.