Jerusalem’s transport transformation reached another milestone this week with the opening of a new park-and-ride facility at Ora Junction, adjacent to the Red Line of the Jerusalem Light Rail, on the section leading toward Hadassah Ein Kerem. Built by the Moriah Company in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Transport and the Jerusalem Municipality, the parking lot is designed to change how drivers enter the city and make the shift from private cars to public transport simple, fast, and accessible.
The new facility includes around 80 parking spaces and is strategically located at the southwestern entrance to Jerusalem, close to the main axis leading into the city center. The site was planned to allow drivers to park comfortably, walk a very short distance, and continue directly onto the light rail into the heart of Jerusalem.
According to the Ministry of Transport, the opening of the Ora Junction park-and-ride is an integral part of the broader strategy to reduce traffic congestion at the entrances to Jerusalem and within the city itself, while strengthening the light rail as the backbone of public transportation in the metropolitan area.
How does the Ora Junction park-and-ride change entering Jerusalem?
Israel’s Minister of Transport and Road Safety, Miri Regev, notes that “our transport vision is based on full connectivity between all modes of transport – private cars, park-and-ride facilities, and mass transit systems. The opening of Ora Junction allows drivers to leave their cars at connection points and continue on an efficient and accessible light rail journey. This helps reduce congestion, improve the travel experience, and strengthen public transport as a central system in Jerusalem and metropolitan areas overall.”
Why does the Jerusalem Municipality see Ora Junction as part of a broader move?
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion explains that “managing transport in a metropolis like Jerusalem requires a systemic view. We are building a network of complementary solutions – parking facilities, light rail, and public transport corridors – all working together as one system. Ora Junction is part of this move: giving people a real option to leave their cars in the outskirts and reach the city center using fast, efficient, and sustainable public transport.”
How does Ora Junction fit into the Ministry of Transport’s strategy?
Director General of the Ministry of Transport, Moshe Ben Zaken, notes that “under the leadership of Minister Miri Regev, the ministry is advancing a smart, systemic transport approach in which every project integrates into a wider network of complementary solutions. Ora Junction strengthens connectivity between the urban periphery and demand centers, and complements the major investment in light rail infrastructure, park-and-ride facilities, and public transport lanes for smoother, safer, and more efficient travel for the public.”
What role did the Moriah Company play in the project?
Gilad Bar-Adon, CEO of the Moriah Company, explains that “Ora Junction enables those arriving from the southwest of the city and surrounding areas to leave their private cars behind and switch to a fast light rail journey. As part of the policy to make the light rail network accessible, we built another parking facility that joins a growing line of park-and-ride sites being developed along the rail routes, with the goal of turning public transport into the most convenient and efficient option for passengers.”
The opening of the Ora Junction park-and-ride marks not only the addition of parking spaces, but a conceptual shift: entering Jerusalem no longer has to mean sitting in traffic. It can now begin with a short stop outside the city and a smooth ride along the rails.
