Metropolitan Transport Authorities Bill Set for Final Knesset Votes

Israel's metropolitan transport-authorities bill is before the Knesset for final votes this week after decades of failed efforts to decentralize public-transport management. The measure would establish authorities for Gush Dan, Jerusalem and Haifa, with Beersheba designated for a later authority, and transfer regional planning, licensing, traffic management, enforcement and infrastructure responsibilities. National policy and fare-setting would remain with the state, while the transport and finance ministers would approve authority budgets; Israel Railways would remain under state control. Most provisions would take effect six months after publication. Operations would begin only after key appointments and approval, or deemed approval after four months, of the first budget.