Knesset Approves Temporary Terminal to Evacuate Tel Aviv Central Bus Station
A joint Knesset committee has approved the temporary rezoning of Mikveh Israel school lands to build a public transport terminal by 2031, absorbing 60% of the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station's traffic.
The long-delayed evacuation of the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station has taken a significant step forward. A joint parliamentary committee, combining the Knesset Education, Culture, and Sports Committee with the Internal Affairs and Environmental Protection Committee, approved on Monday a limited rezoning of lands belonging to the historic Mikveh Israel agricultural school. This decision clears the way for a temporary public transportation terminal designed to absorb a major portion of the central station's operations.
The Temporary Terminal at Mikveh Israel
According to the approved plan, the temporary terminal will be constructed north of Route 44, spanning a total area of 134 dunams (approx. 33 acres), with 41 dunams dedicated specifically to the terminal facility. Ayalon Highways estimates that the terminal will open between 2031 and 2032.
The facility is designed to handle approximately 60% of the public transportation volume currently routed through the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station. It will serve as an interim solution for up to 25 years until a permanent terminal is completed at the Ben Zvi complex in Holon.
The Tel Aviv Central Bus Station, which opened in 1993, has faced severe criticism for decades due to its massive, multi-level structure, environmental hazards, and the heavy bus traffic it funnels into South Tel Aviv neighborhoods.
Safeguarding Mikveh Israel's Heritage
Because Mikveh Israel is protected under a dedicated 1976 state law, any land-use changes require special parliamentary approval. The joint committee ruled that the public utility of the transport and drainage projects justified the rezoning, but insisted on strict safeguards to protect the institution's rights.
The committee requested that the state make every effort to restore the land to its original agricultural state at the end of the 25-year period, ensuring that all associated rehabilitation costs are not borne by the school. The Chairman of the Education, Culture, and Sports Committee, MK Zvi Sukkot, emphasized:
"The committee urges the state to make every possible effort to ensure this land returns to its original agricultural designation once the temporary period ends."
Sarit Goldstein, CEO of Mikveh Israel, stated that while the board recognizes the national and social importance of relocating the central bus station, the school's educational and agricultural rights must be preserved.
"Mikveh Israel has operated for 156 years as an agricultural-educational institution. Today, we educate 1,950 students across three schools, including a boarding school, on 3,300 dunams in the heart of the Gush Dan metropolitan area."
Goldstein expressed skepticism about growing wheat or maintaining orchards on the site after 25 years of bus terminal operations, but noted that other agricultural uses might still be viable.
Flood Prevention and Infrastructure Upgrades
In addition to the transport hub, the committee approved a localized rezoning of up to 20 dunams north of Route 44 for an underground drainage conduit. Part of the "Ayalon River to the Sea Conduit" initiative, this project is designed to mitigate severe flooding risks in Gush Dan and support the construction of the fourth railway track along the Ayalon corridor.
Eyal Kotzer, representing Netivei Israel, described the conduit as a vital complementary project that will channel excess runoff directly to the sea. The Ministry of Agriculture declared the project essential to prevent uncontrolled flooding in nearby residential neighborhoods.
Ayalon Highways representative Yuval Rodriguez noted that the Mikveh Israel terminal is one of the most critical infrastructure projects in the country. The site will include overnight parking and operational facilities, subject to strict environmental regulations to prevent soil contamination. The bus fleet operating at the terminal is eventually expected to be fully electrified.
