The Ministry of Transportation is moving forward with an experimental project, that commuters using minibus service in Tel Aviv will be able to order a minibus servicing Gush Dan via a smartphone app.

The one-year project began running on Monday, April 15, 2019, a pilot program for a limited public transportation market, minibuses that will be operating in Tel Aviv. Using an application on one’s smartphone, one will be able to order one of 40 minibuses currently taking part in the experiment. That number is expected to increase to 100 by June 2019.

The new service will enable passengers to order a minibus ride via the phone app to central destinations in the heart of the Dan region such as hospitals, educational institutions, train stations, employment areas and more. The passenger will be directed to a bus stop close to where he is located, and the route and the stops will be determined according to the passengers’ orders, while calculating the shortest route connecting the passengers who booked the ride to the destinations.

The route will be determined by via the technology, enabling dynamic planning of a short and fast route. The app will allow all users to track the estimated collection time, route, and arrival times to the destination. In addition, an information screen will be installed showing the date of arrival of passengers to their destinations. The service will be determined according to the needs of the users at any given time and will allow the passengers to give up the private vehicle.

The service will be operations on Sundays through Thursdays between ^00 AM and 10:00 PM. The price for the rides will vary between 12 and 15 shekels during premium time, 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM and 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Senior citizens will receive a 50% reduction in the fare.

The application will allow any passenger with a physical disability who needs an accessible vehicle to order a vehicle adapted to his needs. According to the Ministry of Transportation, animals will not be allowed to travel (except for guide dogs) and parents who travel with their children will be required to appropriate safety measures in accordance to the law.

Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz said that the new service is another step to encourage the use of public transportation at the expense of private vehicles and to reduce traffic congestion in the Dan region. “The ministry intends to expand the service to Egged companies in Jerusalem and Haifa and a metropolitan area in the South Sharon region,” Katz added.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)