New way to ease entry into Tel Aviv: what awaits drivers
Starting Sunday, a new transport complex opens in Rishon LeZion with 3,500 free parking spaces and shuttles to Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan. The project is part of a massive fast-lane program costing 8 billion shekels. Drivers are encouraged to leave their cars and take free buses that run every five minutes during peak hours.
Starting Sunday, drivers heading to Tel Aviv will have a new way to avoid traffic jams. A transport complex opens in western Rishon LeZion — the second phase of the fast-lane project. The complex spans about 140,000 square meters, has four floors, and offers 3,500 free parking spaces, 350 electric vehicle charging stations, and 500 bicycle spots. From the parking lot, four free shuttle routes run to key business and transport areas of Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan: the Kirya, Sarona, Azrieli Center, Ichilov Hospital, Savidor Station, the stock exchange district, and Menachem Begin and Yigal Alon streets. Buses operate Sunday through Thursday from 6:00 AM to 10:45 PM, with a five-minute frequency during peak hours and 15 minutes at other times. Each bus seats 44 passengers and is equipped with Wi-Fi and power outlets. A similar system in Shefayim with 7,000 spaces and five routes serves about 10,000 passengers daily, but traffic jams between Shefayim and Tel Aviv persist. The project is part of a massive fast-lane program spanning 33 km along the coastal highway and Route 20, with a total cost of about 8 billion shekels. The next phase is planned for 2027: fast lanes will open to private cars — vehicles with three or more passengers can use them for free, while others will pay between 7.12 and 106.76 shekels depending on congestion. Private car access will only be allowed at speeds of at least 70 km/h. At the end of 2027, the project is expected to expand toward Netanya with reversible lanes.