If all goes according to plan, a bus ride in Israel will increase by 4.7% beginning on January 1, 2013. Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz is calling on Finance Minister Yair Lapid to scrap the planned fare increase.

Katz sent a second letter to Lapid on Sunday, 19 Teves 5774, urging the finance minister to do away with the planned rate increase. He explains that many if not most of the commuters using public transportation are not among the nation’s wealthy and adding an additional fare hike will spell disaster for some families.

In addition, Katz adds that a fare increase undermines ongoing Ministry of Transportation efforts to encourage residents to use public transportation.

The fare increase is based on a 1997 cabinet decision which compels a fare hike on the first of January and July of each year to keep the cost of public transportation in line with the price index.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)