Government to embark upon Tel Aviv congestion charge scheme

The plan proposes a charge of between NIS0.10 and NIS1.00 (US$0.03-0.30) per kilometer of travel inside the city, based on traffic congestion
 
According to a tender published last week on the website of Ayalon Highways Ltd, which operates Road 20, the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, the Ministries of Finance and Transport are planning to levy a congestion charge on motorists entering the city.
 
The proposal is part of the government's plan to reform vehicle taxation to gradually reduce the purchase tax on new motor vehicles and raise user fees.
 
The plan proposes a charge of between NIS0.10 and NIS1.00 (US$0.03-0.30) per kilometer of travel inside the city, based on traffic congestion.
 
The Finance and Transport ministries are planning a pilot program with 1,200 drivers and Ayalon Highways in a few months.
 
Under the congestion pricing pilot scheme, participating vehicles will have GPS transponders installed, which will measure several factors: travel time, location, and distance in order to determine the amount of the congestion charge allocated to each driver.
 
A motor vehicle that does not travel to the Tel Avivcity center during rush hour and whose congestion charge does not exceed NIS100 (US$30), will receive a NIS250 (US$75) credit. The fee, according to the pilot scheme, will not be paid to a driver who disconnects from the system during the trial period.