Shopping a Nightmare in Central Jerusalem

Residents and visitors alike are finding it harder to shop in central Jerusalem’s commercial business district. Once considered the pride of modern, West Jerusalem, businesses located on streets such as Jaffa Road, King George, and Ben Yehuda streets, often referred as the city’s “shopping triangle” are claiming to be in dire straits due to virtual inaccessibility by cars during normal business hours. The main problem stems from construction work being carried out to build a passenger rail tram line which has been under construction for near four years. The line, which will run the entire length of Jaffa Road, as well as some adjoining streets, was originally planned to bring long needed relief to the city’s nightmarish traffic problems. Though scheduled to be completed some time in 2008, project engineers now say that it will not be finished until late in 2012, four years hence.

Local merchants are so concerned over the lack of business in this area, due to the inaccessibility by traffic,that many of them could very well go out of business long before the tram project is completed. This area also includes the large, open air pedestrian mall, which not only contains numerous shops, but scores of restaurants and fast food establishments as well. Many would-be shoppers have been forced to patronize other locations, including the city’s shopping malls. Another shopping area, the newly renovated Mamilla Quarter luxury shopping area, located just outside the Old City’s Jaffa Gate, also has severe traffic accessibility, though not quite as bas as that of the “triangle”.

City planners still believe that the new rail tram will enable people to have easy access to central Jerusalem without having to use their cars. The rail project, under tender for several years until a European transportation consortium company, Connex, won out over other bidders. The all electric light rail line will have trams running into the city from northern suburban neighborhoods, allowing people who either work or shop in to city to have a more convenient mode of transportation. Connex, based in France, is in partnership with several other entities, including two Israeli companies: Polar Investments, and Harel Insurance Company.

Project planners estimate that as many as 150,000 people will use the first tram line, which will begin in the north Jerusalem neighborhood of Pisgat Zeev, and end at Mt. Herzl, by way of Jaffa Road and other streets in the city center.

All of these plans are not much solace to the area merchants, however, who have seen their revenues drop considerably, due to the ongoing construction. Many small business, such as book stores, boutiques, souvenir shops, and mini-markets are family run businesses that simply are too difficult to be relocated, if the need arises. One man, in his 60’s who owns a small electrical appliance repair shop, was quoted that if things do not improve, he will have no choice other than to close a business he has been operating for more than 30 years.

Whether most of these small businesses will be able to survive economically until the project is completed is the main question, and most of them feel that there is no one to listen to their plight, particularly the Jerusalem Municipality.

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