[sustran] trans-israel highway

[JOHN WHITELEGG]

Dear Colleagues,

Trans-Israeli Highway (TIH)

The TIH is as good an example as can be found of how not to plan for
transport and regional development.  In April this year I discussed the
TIH in Israel with the company building the road, government ministers
and academics.  The road is largely military and ideological in concept
and was approved by the government on those grounds.  Arguments about
CBA and rates of return are important but have to be put in perspective.
 The road is very costly and one junction alone (Ben Shemen, just
outside Tel Aviv) will cost more than the annual budget of the Isareli
State Railway.  The most comvincing argument against the road (apart
from the important ones about environmental destruction) are those that
point out the enormous costs to public expenditure in Israel. The fact
that the road is a private toll road does not protect the Israeli budget
from all the assocaited infrastructure costs (eg connections at every
junction), guarantees about toll income and buy back arrangements.  The
road will also alter the spatial and regional structures of Israel to
make the country more spread-out, more energy inefficient and more
polluting.. not to mention health damaging consequences on those who
live near the road and major political problems assocaited with the
Israeli govevernment taking land from palestinian villages for the road.
 I would urge all those interested in equity and human right issues (as
well common sense transport planning) to get more info from Yaakov Garb
in Jerusalem and try to persuade the Israeli govt not to proceed.

best wishes

JOhn Whitelegg