(Hai Pa) – The increase in public transportation prices planned for July 1, 2025, has been postponed. Following the intervention of the Minister of Transportation, Brigadier General (Res.) Miri Regev, and the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich. This is a significant postponement of another wave of price increases, which could have raised the price of a single urban trip to 9 shekels, a direct continuation of the approximately 45% increase in prices in the past year.
The move is made possible thanks to budget savings created by the reduction of government subsidies during the war, and now provides breathing room for public transportation users who are bearing increasing costs.
As a reminder, on April 25, 2025, the second wave of the Ministry of Transportation's "Transportation Justice" reform went into effect. As part of it, over a million senior citizens began traveling for free on public transportation, and an additional 1.5 million Israelis benefited from significant discounts. On the other hand, other public transportation users were forced to absorb the sharp price increase that accompanied the reform.
The increase included an additional 2 shekels for single trips, as well as an increase of up to 33% in the prices of subscriptions – the free daily pass, the free monthly pass, and Israel Railways subscriptions – which weighed on the pockets of many passengers.
The increase in public transportation prices, which was planned for July 1, 2025 and was postponed at the last minute, was expected to burden the public even more, as it would have joined a sharp increase that already went into effect only two months ago.
I think all the pensioners who received the benefit of a significant discount. And also an exemption. Because of the situation that the whole nation is experiencing with the increase in fares and now when traveling on buses, it is possible that we can give a refund. It is possible that we will all absorb the increase by a certain percentage. That way we will all help each other.