— Press Release —

Mayor Shmuel Greenberg: "I Firmly Oppose the Establishment of the Public Transportation Terminal in Its Current Location"

Beit Shemesh Mayor Shmuel Greenberg approached the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee yesterday (Sunday), filing a formal objection to the plan to establish a major transportation hub in the heart of Ramat Beit Shemesh A. The proposed project includes a central station, a bus terminal, and office complexes.

In his letter, the Mayor warned that the plan introduces a "significant concentration of traffic volume" into the center of an existing residential area. He cautioned that a transport center of this scale could lead to "heavy traffic congestion on main arteries, disruption of traffic flow, parking shortages, and threats to pedestrian safety." Furthermore, he noted that the high volume of buses and vehicles is likely to create "noise and air pollution," placing an unreasonable burden on the urban and neighborhood environment.

The Mayor further stated that placing the center within an established residential neighborhood "does not provide a sufficient response to the transportation and environmental consequences for residents" and risks harming the quality of life for both the neighborhood and the city at large.

Mayor Greenberg emphasized in his appeal to the committee that while the city certainly requires advanced transportation solutions, more suitable alternative locations must be explored outside the heart of the neighborhood. This would ensure the city's transportation needs are met without creating extreme congestion or negatively impacting residents.