Economics Committee Approves: New Transport Authorities to Manage Urban Traffic
The Knesset Economics Committee today approved an important proposal aimed at improving public transportation in Israel. According to the proposal, metropolitan transport authorities will be established to manage traffic in major cities and their surrounding areas. The central goal is to transfer transportation management from the government to local authorities in order to better adapt the service to the needs of residents.
The new law stipulates that local authorities will receive many powers that have until now been held by the Ministry of Transport. They will be able to plan new bus lines, set schedules, and manage public transportation and bicycle lanes. The move is expected to begin in the central region and later expand to other areas of the country, such as Jerusalem and Haifa.
Transportation experts explain that the current situation is not efficient enough. When the government decides every small detail from afar, it is difficult to provide quick solutions to local problems. In contrast, a local authority knows the area and can respond quickly. For example, it can add bus lines to new neighborhoods or change routes according to changing traffic congestion.
Now, following the committee's approval, the proposal will move to its second and third readings in the Knesset plenum to become an official law. If the move succeeds, it will be one of the most significant changes in Israel's transportation system in many years. The public hopes that the change will lead to a reduction in traffic jams and a significant improvement in the quality of service for passengers.