The Knesset's Economy Committee, chaired by MK David Bitan, convened today (Wednesday) for a follow-up meeting on the subject of public transportation reform. During it, the government presented its position on the committee's proposals that came up in the previous discussion.
During the discussion, Chairman Bitan asked the Ministry of Transportation for a specific reference to the committee's requirements to promote free travel for senior citizens over the age of 67, a combined train and bus subscription, a response to casual travelers in the social and geographic periphery, the presentation of the cheapest route in the Ministry of Transportation's application, free travel for veterans for one year and discounted travel For residents of Eilat to Ramon Airport.
The reference was given by the Acting CEO of the Ministry of Transportation, Avner Flor, and the Director of the National Public Transportation Authority, Ran Shadami. Flor noted that there is reference to both the social and geographic periphery, according to the CBS clusters and according to the socioeconomic index, and in these places there will be a 50% discount.
In addition, senior citizens will be able to travel for free from the age of 67 for men and from the age of 62 for women, as well as veterans up to one year after release.
Young people aged 18 to 26 will benefit from a 33% discount.
Will the trips to Ramon airport soon cost less?
(for illustration), photo: Coco
As for the trip from Eilat to Ramon Airport, Flor said that Eilat is considered a periphery and therefore there will be a 50% discount on the trip.
He added that there is a significant reduction in travel costs in the periphery and that everyone is catered for.
Chairman Bitan asked for a reference to the issue of the budget and the entry into force of the changes, and Flore replied that the ministry will introduce the changes in the 2023 budget.
The representative of the budget department at the Treasury, Itzik Daniel, said that "currently there is no budget source, we would be happy for the Ministry of Transportation to present the source and how it intends to finance it. In the budget discussions for next year, the government will set priorities and what it decides will be included."
Free travel for veterans soon?
(for illustration), photo: IDF spokesman
To this, Chairman Bitan responded and said that this is a top issue in terms of priorities, and called on the Treasury to find a budget for it. He also called on the Ministry of Transportation to find the money needed to apply the plan from now until the budget is approved.
Shadami replied that there is currently no approved budget for the Ministry of Transportation.
Chairman Bitan responded that when there was a political crisis, 700 million shekels were found, so even now it is possible to find several tens of millions of shekels to run the program until the budget is approved.
MK Avraham Bezalel also referred to the cost of the 740 million shekels needed for the program, and asked whether the Ministry of Transportation has a plan in place in case the Treasury does not approve the budget. To this, Chairman Bitan said that if the Treasury does not approve a budget for this, then there will be no state budget at all .
The representatives of the disabled asked for a free ride for wheelchair users on the train, because they have no other alternative, and Chairman Bitan asked for a reference to this.
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