In recent years, the Carmel Tunnels have become a stumbling block for Haifa residents, with extremely high prices for traveling through them. The public struggle surrounding the issue has gained momentum, and the Haifa City Council cannot remain indifferent. What is behind the struggle, and what is the strategy the municipality is adopting? Is the public investment justified?
Zeev Sonenzon and I wrote a proposal for an order to the Haifa City Council on behalf of the "Our Home" faction.
The heated struggle in the Carmel Tunnels
While the use of the Carmel Tunnels is extremely expensive, it must be acknowledged that the collection of the fee is carried out according to the law and in accordance with the agreements between the state and the concessionaire. The demand to nationalize the tunnels or subsidize travel through them may be justified, but is not necessarily mandatory according to the agreements between the operators of the Carmel Tunnels and the State of Israel. Until recently, the Haifa Municipality did not take an active part in this struggle, but with the increased involvement of the mayor and the public investment in the struggle, the public should know more about the nature of the struggle, its goals, and how it is financed.
Haifa Municipality's involvement: a major public investment
The new move by the Haifa Municipality, which includes advertising budgets and vehicles that belong to the municipal system, is worrying. While the municipality has the right to fight for its residents, it is clear that once the fight spills over into the municipal system and public resources are invested, close monitoring by the council and the public is needed. It is important to understand what resources the municipality is investing in this fight and what steps have been taken so far.
Requirement for transparency and ongoing reporting
Accordingly, the motion to order asks the City Council to hold a serious and professional discussion regarding the strategy of the struggle. Orderly and detailed information is needed, including a review of the goals, the legal strategy, the financial planning and investments invested so far and in the coming years. All residents of the city are entitled to know how and how much money is invested in the struggle, and how their public resources have been used. In addition, the call for a quarterly report on the status of the struggle and its expenses places the issue under public scrutiny and draws attention to the option of full transparency.
If traffic in the tunnels were free, a situation would arise where the tunnels would not be able to handle the volume of traffic and serious traffic jams would occur. It would be highly advisable to carve another tunnel - a dream without a budget...
I have a subscription and yet I don't travel through the tunnels because for me it's a principle that's not worth it because of the high price. For me, I also avoid Highway 6 because the price is sky-high there. If there's no special reason, don't travel on Highway 6 either.
Traffic accidents as of 15/3/25
85 deaths since the beginning of the year compared to 67 in 2024
Massacre on the roads, every day.
A 20 percent jump in total traffic accidents, which we will pay for with insurance.
If the rate of increase in fatal accidents continues, by 2025 there will be 500 deaths annually.
This is after the high of 430 a year ago.
In my opinion, it is more convenient for residents of the Krayot who travel south by car to travel via the highway.
There is 70 or so in his name Wadi Milk
Even though I have a subscription, I don't use tunnels.
It would be right and good for the entire public to act this way because in my opinion it is the only tool we have as a public.
There are alternative ways, and since in the end it's a financial calculation (the biggest expense on a vehicle is the cost of fuel), then for this reason at least, it's worth avoiding using the tunnel.
If all or most of us behave this way, there is a chance they will get the hint and return to a reasonable and sane rate.
The prices in the tunnels are a scandal, I will never understand this. They are trying to solve the issue of traffic jams, and at the same time they are slaughtering us in the tunnels!!! Shame
Excellent. I never drive in tunnels. And I don't need to drive there. That's for the rich.
The government, together with the municipality, initiated a public service, the construction of a tunnel in an international tender, but forgot to supervise it after its construction over the years. They should try to revoke their license, if it does not serve the general public. The municipality and the government - the Ministry of Transportation - should finance the passage through it, as a service to the public. Otherwise, no one will travel…
Hey, why do you let a politician write a column for you?
There is no strategy, Yona Yahav knows he can't do anything against them, because they are well protected by law, he's just making noise and it doesn't contribute anything, only demonstrations and blockades will help here,
Whoever pays – receives.
You just have to write 'marketing article' or 'advertising section' at the top.
Before the elections, this site was David Etzioni's home page.
Or at least they won't knock on the door at seven in the morning for people in their 14s for XNUMX shekels.
The problem is also with the behavior of the Carmel Tunnels, if there is no subscription and the car passes through the subscription crossing. The company demands 121 NIS in compensation for the effort to locate the owner of the car. This is impudence. All they do is press a button at the license plate office. They don't settle for sending the payment like they do on Highway 6 North. I accidentally entered the Carmel Tunnels. Their prices are crazy. Due to congestion, I was unable to reach the cash payment station, and these impudence people sent me a warning letter without an invoice number. It was impossible to reach them by phone, contacting them through the website did not receive a response. I went to their offices physically and only there did they cancel the impudence demand. This is how they take advantage of people without a subscription. They press to subscribe
There is no strategy, Yona Yahav knows he can't do anything against them, because they are well protected by law, he's just making noise and it doesn't contribute anything, only demonstrations and blockades will help here,
Dear, do as I do,
Traveling the old roads.
Lives in the movie
Hello, enough with the demagoguery!
The vast majority of tunnel users are not residents of Haifa, but rather residents of the suburbs and the north.
In addition, the vast majority of Haifa residents only use a single section of the tunnels and not both sections.
In addition, where was Yona Yahav and the Haifa Municipality when they signed the operating agreement… were they sleeping at noon???
In addition, in addition, in addition, why do you pay the same price for the southern and northern sections, while the southern one is twice as long as the northern one???
There are tens of thousands who travel free of charge in the tunnels every day - public transportation passengers. Precisely for this reason, it would not be right to make discounts on the cost of transit in the tunnels, as this encourages many to travel by public transportation.
And you think the bus companies don't pay for passage through the tunnels?
Audacity, they received land for my sake. A tunnel. Land belonging to the municipality and receiving. Money when the land belongs to all Haifa residents. First of all, there are traffic jams. Just because many cannot afford to travel in the tunnel because the amounts are very high, it turns out that most of those who travel are people whose place of work funds their travel in the tunnel. Why do Jerusalem residents pay money for everyone who passes through the tunnel in Jerusalem. Why can't we enjoy it? Why are Kiryat Yam residents exempt from paying for parking on the beach. That's how it should be.
There are tens of thousands who travel free of charge in the tunnels every day - public transportation passengers. Precisely for this reason, it would not be right to make discounts on the cost of transit in the tunnels, as this encourages many to travel by public transportation.
The City Council members are weak and unstable, including future mayoral candidates, who are not suitable!!!
correct!
Agreed. A geriatric council plus some young League D activists