Public transportation prices to drop sharply

Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz announces a sharp reduction in the prices of public transportation in the coming weeks.

Among the plan’s goals is to encourage more commuters to leave their cars in the driveway and take the bus or the train to work so as not to overwhelm the streets of Tel Aviv, where ground was broken this week on a light rail system.

The new policy will allow travelers to board an unlimited number of buses, trains, and light rails within 90 minutes of buying a ticket.

Meanwhile, prices for monthly passes will drop significantly – by up to 40 percent – with an annual cost to the state of some NIS 120 million ($31.6 million) the announcement says.

Katz says the reform will offer a “modern, efficient” pricing scheme reminiscent of “the standard in European countries.”