A decade of disruption
For many shop owners along the route of Tel Aviv’s new light rail, the opening of the Red Line last month was supposed to be a moment of celebration and relief. After nearly a decade of enduring road closures, blocked access, dust and noise, they hoped that the shiny new train would bring them a surge of customers and revive their businesses.
However, their hopes have been dashed by the reality of low ridership, lack of parking, and ongoing construction work. Many say that they have not seen any improvement in their situation, and some fear that they may not survive much longer.
Shlomo Marmor, the owner of a flower store on Yehuda Halevi Street, feels deceived. His shop, which his family has run for over 70 years in the same location, is right across from a light-rail station that exits onto a promenade in the middle of the two-way street. He says that he has never received any compensation for the disruption caused by the rail works, and that he has seen no increase in foot traffic since the train started operating.
“Nobody comes out of the station. We hoped the start of the train line would bring us some relief, but things are even worse now,” Marmor tells The Times of Israel. “They told us it would be ‘hard today but good tomorrow.’ But we are still looking for the good. It’s not good.”
A long-awaited project
The Tel Aviv light rail is a long-awaited project that aims to ease the chronic traffic congestion and pollution in Israel’s most populous metropolitan area. The Red Line, which runs 24 kilometers from Petah Tikva to Bat Yam via Tel Aviv’s economic centers, is the first phase of a planned network that will eventually include four lines and cover 145 kilometers.
The Red Line was originally scheduled to open in 2017, but faced a string of delays and controversies that pushed back its inauguration to August 18, 2023. The project cost an estimated 16 billion shekels ($5 billion), and involved digging tunnels, laying tracks, building stations, and installing electrical and communication systems.
The construction work caused significant disruption to the daily lives of residents and businesses along the route, especially on major arteries such as Yehuda Halevi Street, Ibn Gabirol Street, and Carlebach Street. Many complained about the noise, dust, vibrations, and loss of parking spaces that resulted from the rail works. Some also claimed that they suffered damage to their properties or health due to the digging and drilling.
The NTA Metropolitan Mass Transit System, the government-owned company responsible for building and operating the light rail, said that it tried to minimize the impact of the construction on the public by implementing various measures, such as providing alternative transportation options, installing noise barriers, and offering compensation to affected parties.
A disappointing start
Despite the challenges and setbacks, many expected that the launch of the light rail would mark a new era for Tel Aviv’s public transportation and urban development. The NTA projected that the Red Line would serve 70 million passengers per year, or about 200,000 per day. It also claimed that the train would reduce travel time, save fuel costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and create new business opportunities along its route.
However, the reality so far has been far from rosy. According to data released by the NTA, only 15 million passengers used the Red Line in its first month of operation, or about 500,000 per day. This is less than a quarter of the expected ridership. The low demand has been attributed to several factors, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of integration with other modes of transportation, and the high ticket prices.
Moreover, many shop owners along the route say that they have not benefited from the train at all. They say that most passengers either stay underground or walk away from their stores after exiting the stations. They also complain that there is still a lot of construction work going on around them, which makes it hard for customers to access their shops or find parking spaces.
Ronen Gabay, who owns a cosmetics and house-cleaning items store on Yehuda Halevi Street for 30 years says that his sales have dropped by 80 percent since the start of the rail works. He says that he has not seen any change in his situation since the train opened.
“I don’t see any difference. There is no parking here. There is no access here. There is no life here,” he says. “The train is not helping us at all. It’s killing us.”
A glimmer of hope
Despite the disappointment and frustration expressed by many shop owners along the route of Tel Aviv’s new light rail, some still hold out hope that things will improve in time. They believe that as more people get used to using the train and as more stations open up along its route (currently only 16 out of 34 are operational), they will see more customers and more activity in their area.
Shai Berman, the CEO of the Israel Restaurants and Bars Association, says that he is optimistic that the light rail will eventually boost the business of the food and beverage sector along its route. He says that the train will make it easier for people to travel to different parts of the city and enjoy its culinary offerings.
“The light rail is a great opportunity for the restaurant industry in Tel Aviv. It will create a new dynamic and a new market for us,” he says. “It will take some time for people to adapt to it, but I think that in the long run, it will be very beneficial.”
He also urges the NTA and the local authorities to do more to support the shop owners who have suffered from the rail works, such as providing them with financial assistance, tax breaks, or marketing campaigns.
“They deserve some compensation for their losses. They have been through a lot of hardship and they need some help to recover,” he says.
