(haipo) - As of Sunday 01.10.023, the price of traveling in each of the two sections in the Carmel tunnels for a private vehicle will rise again and will be 10.11 NIS for subscribers and 11.07 NIS for a non-subscription vehicle.
A public vehicle will pay NIS 33.21 per segment, while a truck will pay NIS 55.35 per subscription.
The struggle of the residents
Since 2015, residents have been fighting against the cost of using the tunnels. According to the residents, it does not make sense that the residents of Haifa and also people who come to the tunnels and are not residents of the city, should pay for the use of the tunnels.
The struggle also refers to the fares, which are now over NIS 20 for a trip in the tunnels from north to south and vice versa, but mainly claims that, overall, there is no place to pay for the use of the tunnels. The mayoral elections are approaching and some candidates claim that they can cancel the payment, even though the payment and the increase in prices Backed by an agreement between the state and the company that operates the tunnels, Carmelton.
Mayoral candidate David Etzioni: "Haifa residents pay for a road that should serve them for free"
Attorney David Etzioni, candidate for mayor of Haifa:
"The Carmel tunnels were opened during the tenure of Yona Yahav who simply did not fight for the residents and allowed Haifa to become a city where residents pay for a road that is supposed to serve them for free. The current increase in price is the product of a long-standing disconnect between Haifa and the decision makers in Jerusalem. The residents are tired of being the suckers of the state and They have a young mayor and a bulldozer who will fight for their economic benefit."
Mayoral candidate Yaakov Borovski: A simple conversation will lead to the cancellation of the toll
Mayoral candidate Jacob Borovski believes that canceling the payment for the tunnels is a simple thing, and only requires leadership. "The toll paid by the residents of Haifa in the Carmel Tunnels is an "offensive and disrespectful tax" of the state on the citizens of Haifa. The tax is not only financial. A large part of the day and night Ha-Atsamat St. is congested for no reason and the businesses on the street have disappeared due to the lack of parking, and even worse due to air pollution from endless convoys in traffic jams
So why do we pay the fee?
Due to the extreme omission of Yona Yahav, who did not demand from the government that travel in the Carmel Tunnel be free. Just recently, the mining of a tunnel connecting the city center to Route 1 was completed in Jerusalem. Has anyone thought of asking the citizens for a toll?
The explanation as if this is an agreement, made between Haifa and the franchisees, is nothing more than eye catching and a false representation, since the agreement is between the state and the franchisees. By the way, there is a condition in the agreement which says that the state will guarantee and finance collection gaps, here is another parameter of disrespect and harm to the citizen. The Treasury raises the fees unilaterally and a 6 km trip can cost NIS 30-40. The crazy price also makes citizens not use the tunnels.
And another fact, remember there used to be a TV fee?
I had the honor of being appointed to the executive committee of the Broadcasting Authority that worked to abolish it, and who budgets for the corporation today? the treasure.
So look at the absurdity - the citizens of Haifa pay for the use of the Carmel tunnels and with their money and their taxes to the state, the Haifaites also financed the mining of all the tunnels in the country, so that the residents of Jerusalem do not pay out of their own pockets.
Where is the equality? Why the discrimination?
Failed management by mayors who do not understand that, among other things, their role is to represent the residents in front of the authorities. A simple negotiation will lead to the cancellation of the fee, and let's assume that the Treasury will insist, he knows or must know that the High Court will ensure equality and the absence of discrimination. As mayor, I am sure that the negotiations will find a listening ear and if I am wrong there are many other possibilities. Leadership is not nice, knowledge and experience are acquired together."
Mayoral candidate Avihu Han: "I will work to ensure that the residents of Haifa do not pay this scandalous payment"
Avihu Han, the candidate of the Greens - Blue and White, in response to the price increase in the Carmel tunnels:
This injustice was born on Yona Yahav's watch. Yahav fell asleep on the watch, when he agreed that the residents of Haifa would pay the outrageous price for the trip through the Carmel tunnels, a price that only goes up and up.
As the next mayor I will correct the injustice caused to the residents of Haifa, in whose municipal territory the tunnels pass. In cooperation with government officials, I will work to ensure that the residents of Haifa do not pay this scandalous payment.
Leader of the Carmel tunnels protest Ruthie Benin: "We are waiting to see what the new mayor will do..."
The leader of the Carmel Tunnels protest, Ruthi Benin, in response to the insult:
"I am very curious to see what the new mayor will do, after the prices are raised every few months. Today a round trip through the tunnels costs over NIS 40. If someone travels in the tunnels every day, the cost of travel reaches almost 1,000 NIS. I personally have been boycotting travel in the tunnels for years. I do not understand people who continue to travel in the tunnels. Some of the mayoral candidates promised that the travel in the tunnels would be free for the Haifaites. We are a team Those who fight the tunnels are waiting for the nationalization of the tunnels. It is the state that should nationalize the tunnels. I think the whole country should travel for free in the tunnels, as is the case in Jerusalem. Both in Jerusalem and Haifa these are roads that cross a city. What should be there is that all the residents, even the random people who come from outside the city , will travel for free".
"The one who made us start the fight was the former mayor Yona Yahav, who was standing near the tunnels with a sign that read 'Enough!' of subscribers is getting smaller and smaller and soon there will be no difference at all between subscribers and non-subscribers."
The Carmel tunnels: "The rates are updated in accordance with the agreement between the state and the Carmelton company"
From the Carmel tunnels it was delivered to Hai Pa in response: Since their establishment, the Carmel tunnels have been a major transportation artery in the Haifa metropolis and the passengers in them save a lot of time, fuel, and as a result - money.
"The toll rates in the Carmel tunnels are not determined by the concessionaire. The rates are updated according to the consumer price index and according to an agreement signed between the state and the Carmelton company."
To the best of my recollection, Borovski's claim that the TV fee was canceled is not accurate. It is paid through renewal of car licenses (at the time of the test)
It really amounts to robbery in the light of day when I announced that you would come en masse to close the tunnels physically and help Mrs. Benin. You remained indifferent and did not come. You continue to be robbed.
"I had the honor of being appointed to the executive committee of the Broadcasting Authority that worked to abolish it, and who budgets for the corporation today? The Treasury."
The ink question is serious. Where does the money for the "Treasury" come from?
Let them boycott the Carmel tunnels for a week or two and that no one use the toilets of the tunnels. Let's see how quickly he will lower the price of travel and exits of the Carmel tunnel. The Carmel tunnels are owned by a private entrepreneur, therefore this is the only solution
I don't think it would be wise to cancel the payment in the tunnels, otherwise we will see the traffic jams of Ha-Atsamat Street inside the tunnels...
It is true that the increase in the price of passage in the Carmel tunnels is not fair and the price should be left as it is.
But it should be remembered and it is more important that the public transport passengers among us travel in the tunnels for free (minus the normal fare) and in my opinion toll roads that are open free of charge to public transport passengers is an excellent way to reduce car use in favor of public transport. Certainly in a city like Haifa that has excellent public transport to almost every point in the city .
And what am I supposed to do as an amputee with paralysis? not use my car?