First Time in Israel: Urban District to Be Built Above Transportation Complex
Rishon LeZion, Israel, will see its first urban district built above a transportation complex, offering thousands of housing, employment, and commercial units.
Jerusalem, 5 May, 2026 (TPS-IL) — For the first time in Israel, the construction of an urban district above a public transportation complex has been approved. It is to be situated above the metro depot complex in Rishon LeZion, located south of Tel Aviv.
The plan will include thousands of housing, employment and commercial units, which will be built above an underground transportation infrastructure.
The plan covers approximately 80 acres in southwest Rishon LeZion, and includes the construction of approximately 2,600 housing units, approximately 300 units for assisted living, approximately 280,000 square meters for employment and approximately 17,000 square meters for commerce, alongside approximately 60,000 square meters for public buildings. Approximately 30% of the apartments will be small, with the aim of increasing the supply and making it easier for young couples and homebuyers.
“The plan embodies an advanced concept practiced in leading cities around the world, in which transportation infrastructure is not just a means of transportation but a basis for intensive, high-quality, mixed-use urban development,” said the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety.
The core of the plan is to partially cover the depot complex and establish “artificial ground” above it, on which an active urban district will be built, including residences, employment, commerce, and public services. The construction will be carried out in a variety of structures, including towers alongside terraced construction, and will be based on a dense street network that favors public transportation, walking, and cycling.
