Jerusalem Light Rail

Word now is that the light rail will not be transporting passengers until August at the earliest. According to Yediot Akhronot, the city has budgeted over a two million dollars to teach people, from school children to the elderly, how not to be run over by the train. Since they insist they will allow no other traffic on Yafo from west of the shouk all the way to City Hall, they worry, justifiably, that people will be crossing the street wherever the want to. And since the train is close to silent, pedestrians will have to be very alert."'clang, clang, clang,' went the trolley in St. Louis, but the Jerusalem light rail is close to silent. "'Ding, ding, ding,' went the bell'" but I gather the Jerusalem trains won't bother. Meanwhile getting through the city is slow and I expect the merchants in the shouk are hurting.

Allowing taxis and buses along the part of the right of way now totally closed to all other traffic would keep pedestrians alert, and be a lot more convenient for people who want to go where the train won't. Between the old Shaareu Tzedek building ant City Hall (Safra Square) the train won't be able to go fast anyway because the stops are close together.

Copyright 2011 Jane S. Fox