Dror Ganon of the Transportation Ministry told Kol Chai Radio that major changes have been implemented in Jerusalem’s public transportation, “unprecedented changes”, based on studies and rider surveys, insisting most of the changes will be welcome once rides become accustomed. He explained that on many lines, a riders’ transportation time may by shortened by as much as 15 minutes since many bus routes have been shortened, bringing riders to and from the suburban areas of the capital to the center in less time.

Ganon said he and others are observing and learning, adding on September 1st, the seminary students return to school, which will strain the system while giving an accurate picture of the new routes and the ability to the new arrangements to handle the commuter load.

He explained that prior to the changes, Har Nof for example saw 600 buses pass through daily, stating it is an unacceptable bus load for a neighborhood and the new arrangement will not deprive commuters of service, but it will significantly reduce the number of buses passing through the neighborhood daily.

In Har Nof, commuters appear to be in a state of turmoil as the 11 and 35 lines have been eliminated, replaced by new lines which seem to divide the neighborhood and inhibit access to the center of town.

Jerusalem Councilman Shlomo Rosenstein, who holds the transportation portfolio, rejected accusations that changes were made in chareidi areas without consulting rabbonim. Rosenstein told Kol Chai Radio on Monday night that not only did rabbonim agree, in some cases, he received requests in writing. Once such example is the 40 line, which in essence is a mehadrin line. It was simply too long he explained, as was the case with the 16 bus from Ramot. The bus no longer makes its way to Eli HaCohen Street and then Tzfania, now closed for construction, but continues on Shmuel HaNavi.

The new 64 line making its way to Har Nof he insists is a marvelous bus, albeit not with a mehadrin designation, explaining with pending court cases challenging mehadrin service they did not feel it was appropriate to officially add a mehadrin line, but stated the fact that it services chareidi areas only will result in it becoming a de facto mehadrin line.

Rosenstein explains that the changes were made towards accommodating riders, the chareidi community, seeking to make travel from one area to another faster and less cumbersome. He did add that a survey carried out showed that 400 riders daily got on and off the Eli HaCohen stop, which was eliminated, but did not have a response regarding the future for these riders. He also admitted that in some cases, riders are now compelled to take two buses for what was in the past a one-bus trip.

Residents of chareidi areas of Ramot are angry – no longer able to reach Machane Yehuda shuk with one bus, questioning the wisdom of expediting bus lines while ultimately; they need to take two buses. They rejected the wisdom of the decision.

Residents of Romeima and Ramot question why lines operating for 15-20 years must suddenly vanish or change drastically, all without properly providing commuters with detailed maps of new routes and stops.

Speaking with Kol Chai Radio, Ganon promised that in a number of weeks, the experts will study the facts and speak with riders, and if need be, modifications will be made in most cases to maximize the new routes.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)