As part of the Ministry of Transportation's 'Transportation Justice' reform, and as part of encouraging regular use of public transportation, travel costs will increase - in parallel with a 50% discount when purchasing a free monthly contract in cities and neighborhoods with a low socioeconomic rating.
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In parallel with the general increase in travel prices, a situation has been created in the city of Beitar Illit, whereby parents who wish to send their children to educational institutions are now forced to pay hundreds of shekels each month, which constitutes a significant increase in price.
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The reason: As part of the "Equal Road" reform by former Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli, the option to purchase a local monthly pass was eliminated. Now, with the additional increase in public transportation prices, this means that travel prices for children have tripled!
Mayor Meir Rubinstein sent a letter to Transportation Minister Miri Regev. At the beginning of his letter, he noted: "In recent days, the 'Transportation Justice' reform came into effect, with the possibility of receiving a 50% discount on the purchase of a 'free monthly' contract, in cities with a low socio-economic rating. This is of course positive news for many users of public transportation, and a welcome move that will encourage travel by public transportation, a smart move that I welcome - as someone who worked for a revolution in this issue in our city.
""However, the residents of our city have only lost out from the move. Indeed, the reform is accompanied by a sweeping price increase, and many residents complain that now, following the reform, the monthly payment for public transportation travel has increased significantly by tens of shekels per month - a significant amount, especially in cities with low socioeconomic status, and especially for families with children.".
The mayor added: "It is important to note that until the 'Equal Road' reform that was launched in 2022, residents of Beitar Illit enjoyed a local 'monthly pass' at a monthly cost of only 48 shekels for youth; a contract that was used by thousands of students in the city to travel to school via public transportation. Since then, the price of 'monthly pass' for youth has more than tripled!
""This can be solved by opening the possibility of purchasing a local 'monthly free', at a lower cost, in the model that exists in various cities across the country. The fact that it is not possible to top up a local free, at a cost of 69.5 shekels per month, but rather must top up a national free, has resulted in hundreds of families of our city residents paying 157.5 shekels per month for thousands of children.".
The mayor notes that "this is a very significant amount for the hundreds of families, especially families with children. The many complainants point out that they have no need for a travel contract that allows them to travel throughout the country. All they want to do is send their children to educational institutions, and are begging to be given the option to purchase a local monthly pass.".
""I would ask for your prompt intervention, with the understanding that the reform was made to encourage the use of the Child Protection Act, and to prevent harm to thousands of children and their parents.".
