SAYA - Design for Change
III. Jaffa Gate Study A. Why Jaffa Gate? Jaffa Gate is the main gate serving the Israeli population due to its proximity to the western side of the city. The gate has been situated centrally since ancient times, and nowadays, along with Damascus gate, serves as the main link between the new city and the old city of Jerusalem. Furthermore, it functions as a link between cultures, religions and nations. The Jaffa Gate is surrounded by various landmarks (The citadel and David’s tower, a market, a mission center and more) creating together an urban center for all people – Israeli, Arabic, Jewish, Muslim and Christians from all over the world.
The many thousands of visitors who enter the city every day create a serious challenge to the security facilities. According to a study conducted by Dr. Yakov Garb (2007), during an ordinary day the gate serves as an entrance for about 6,000 people in each direction, with peak flows of up to 1,000 people per hour. At Jaffa Gate, these amounts would typically be comprised of about 60% tourists, 20% religious Jews and 20% Arabs and relatively few secular Israelis. An ordinary day also generates about 1,000 cars exiting the gate and 4,000 cars (plus 36 buses) entering it. Pedestrian flows at Damascus gate are substantially larger.
B. Locating crossing facilities on site The study proposes to separate the vehicle and pedestrian facilities and locate them as shown in illustration 4. 1. Vehicle crossing and inspection: situated at the only large enough spot for a vehicle crossing facility near the intersection leading to the Gate. 2. Pedestrian crossing: The recommended location for the pedestrian crossing facility is the space under the Jaffa Gate entrance plaza. In case an exit terminal is required, it is suggested to use the space in the Karta compound (exit).
11