This is a question I get asked frequently by people considering moving to the area.  The city of Modiin is an enviable position, located midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, connected to two major intercity roads, Route 443 and Route 1, with two train stations linking the city to Tel Aviv (and Jerusalem when the route is eventually completed). Yet,  the neighborhood of Buchman, located at the southern tip of the city, approximately 1.5 kilometer from the Azrieli Mall and central train station, is considered to be far from the city center.   At present the only amenities that exist aside from kindergartens, schools and synagogues (or minyanim) are a small grocery store, a beauty parlor and a handful of private medical practices.   A walk to the Azrieli mall or central train station can take anywhere between 15 minutes from Yitzchak Rabin in North Buchman to 40 minutes from Rivka Imeinu or Emek Ha’afar in South Buchman.  There are several bus lines which operate throughout the day to/from Buchman to the city center, Yishpro center and the two train stations (see bus routes and schedules here).  However,  the bus service seems to serve mainly the youth living in the area and cleaners, nannies, etc. that are employed in Buchman homes.   This is because, almost all residents own a car…..

The good news is that the location of Buchman in Modiin provides easy driving access to/from the main intercity highways: Route 431, an extension of Yitzchak Rabin which crosses over Chashmonaim Blvd. goes straight to Rishon Lezion reducing the previous travel time from 35 to 15 minutes.  431 also takes drivers to the Yishpro shopping area, Patei Modiin train station, and to a new exit on Route 1 which is several kilometers closer to Tel-Aviv than the Latrun exit.   In addition, Route 11/12, a bypass road which previously connected Maccabim/Reut to Route 443 has been extended further south skirting the south and east sides of Buchman, before joining up with a secondary road connecting to Route 1. Recently, an exit from this road was opened, leading directly onto Rechov Esther Hamalka in South Buchman, which becomes Rechov Yosef in North Buchman.  Now, travelers coming to Buchman from the Jerusalem area via any route, or from Tel Aviv via 443, can save valuable time by entering Buchman directly from a major road. In addition, the drive time to Shilat, an industrial area just north of Modiin, which includes several smaller towns and a large array of stores and businesses, as well as Chashmonaim and Kiryat Sefer, has been greatly reduced, especially during peak traffic times.