The Knesset Economics Committee, chaired by MK David Bitan, began advancing a dramatic reform today (Sunday) to establish metropolitan transit authorities. The bill would transfer public transit management from the national government to regional bodies that know local residents’ needs on the ground—and fight traffic congestion that costs the economy around 40 billion shekels a year.
Bitan sharply criticized delays in advancing the bill and demanded binding timetables for implementation. “If the problem is public transit and the damage to the economy is 40 billion shekels a year, why does every project take 10 years?” Bitan asked, declaring: “If China finishes projects in two months, here you’ll do it in two years.”
The issue of operating public transit on Shabbat came up during the hearing, but Bitan made clear he won’t let the topic delay the bill. “I have no intention of getting into the political argument about Shabbat. We won’t hold up this bill for more years because of this issue,” he said. Transportation Ministry Director General Moshe Ben Zaken also welcomed the move, saying: “We’ve reached the conclusion that the citizen is at the center.”
Local government representatives and civic organizations voiced support for the reform but raised concerns about potential harm to small cities. At the hearing’s end, Bitan demanded government officials examine including the city of Rishon LeZion in the reform, and announced that hearings will continue as soon as next Sunday with the goal of passing the bill quickly.