Israel Allocates Millions for Smart Transportation Hubs in Southern Cities

Israel's Ministry of Transportation will invest millions of shekels in 2026 to establish smart transportation test centers in Ashdod and Be'er Sheva, aiming to significantly shorten travel times between the southern cities and Tel Aviv. The centers, operated by Ayalon Highways with national partners, will provide advanced infrastructure for testing and implementing innovative mobility technologies. The funding is designed to shift smart transportation projects from the development phase into real-world, gradual implementation, with priorities focused on safety, advanced regulation, and public value. Technologies under evaluation include AI-driven traffic management systems, autonomous vehicle testing corridors, and predictive maintenance platforms for road infrastructure. In a parallel initiative, Israel Police has announced the country's most ambitious traffic enforcement upgrade in over a decade. The nationwide deployment of AI-powered "average speed" cameras will begin in the third quarter of 2026, replacing traditional point-speed cameras with systems that track vehicles across entire road sections. The pilot phase includes 250 cameras across 125 strategic highway segments, covering high-risk and high-speed corridors. The smart transportation push also extends to Israel's broader roadway network. Israel manages over 20,000 kilometres of national and local roads, including 105 interchanges, 2,200 intersections, and 1,300 bridges and tunnels. Technological integrations emphasize AI-driven systems for predictive maintenance and real-time traffic optimization, as demonstrated by Netivei Ayalon's ongoing collaboration with traffic analytics firm Waycare.