Acting on the initiative of MK Yisrael Eichler, who chairs the Knesset committee which serves as the ombudsman for the nation’s transportation services, efforts are ongoing towards the possible establishment of a bus station in Bnei Brak.

At present, City Hall, Ministry of Transportation, bus companies and other officials are probing the possibility of a central bus station in the Torah city towards centralizing and improving services. Chanoch Zeidman, who holds the city council transportation portfolio is heading the committee.

Officials report that today there are over 194,000 residents in the city, which includes a large chareidi population. There are 16,500 residents employed in the city and about 20,000 that arrive daily. It is cited that the residents and those working in the city rely heavily on public transportation.

There are 6,200 bus trips daily on 162 different bus lines to all areas of the country from Tzfat in the north to Dimona in the south.

Involved in discussion with Zeidman are of course the bus companies; which include Egged, Superbus, Kavim, Afikim and Metropolin. The Public Security Ministry is also involved in the probe as to the viability of a central bus station.

One idea is making city’s main street, Rabbi Akiva Street into an exclusive street for public transportation but it appears that fell to the wayside amid the realization it would lead to unbearable vehicular congestion on city side streets as well as an unacceptable safety hazard.

It is also reported that a new line is being added, a 146 line running between Holon an Bnei Brak.

The city feels the situation that exists today must change, the daily HaMevaser reports, with City Hall pointing out there is no coordination regarding the 162 lines running in the city and City Hall, and this too must change.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)