There are two cable car systems in Haifa, Israel: a cable car on Mount Carmel that runs down the mountain to the Bat Galim promenade in the western part of the city, which is mainly used by tourists, and a planned cable car public-transportation system for the southeastern section of the city, leading to the hilly areas housing the University of Haifa and the Technion.
Commuter service
The planned Haifa cable car system is part of the city's expanded public transport system, scheduled for estimated completion in 2020 or 2021, which will complement the existing city bus and Metronit lines. The cable car's route will run 4.4 kilometres from HaMifratz Central Bus Station at the foot of Mount Carmel to the Technion and then onto the University of Haifa. Most of the passengers are expected to be students. Total travel time from Check Post Junction to the University of Haifa was originally estimated at 17 minutes. More recent estimates, however, indicate that travel time will be 19 minutes. The cable car, whose route is expected to contain six stations when complete, is being named through a competition among schools within the Haifa municipality, with the final winner being chosen by university students. A similar method was used in 2010 to choose the name of Haifa's Metronit lines. Work began in approximately June 2017 on the cable car line, which is being built by the Yefeh Nof municipal development company. An anticipated 76 cable cars will each carry ten passengers, departing from the stations twice per minute. The project will cost an estimated 280 million NIS. It is part of a wider plan to address traffic congestion in Haifa, and in particular, on the two university campuses. It is anticipated that all discounts presently available on other transit systems will be available on the cable car, which will also be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Tourist service
A tourist cable car runs up and down the mountain from the top of the Carmel, opposite the Carmelite Monastery, to Bat Galim, with views of Haifa Bay and surroundings.
