Last update - 00:00 19/03/2007
Experts: Public transit may worsen Tel Aviv air pollution
By Yigal Chai
Experts who studied air pollution in Tel Aviv have told the city that boosting public transportation in the form of buses and taxis could actually worsen the city's air quality.
The conclusion, which appears to contradict the stance taken by other environmental experts, was included in a strategic plan to address air pollution, formulated by environmental advisors Ron Leshem and Reut Rabi from the ESHL Office for Environment and Acoustics, and presented to municipal officials on Sunday.
The plan states that "encouraging public transportation and the reduction in the use of private vehicles may make air pollution worse".
Leshem and Rabi said they reached their conclusion "in the wake of the addition of a number of polluting taxis and buses, which are responsible for a large percentage of the air pollution."
"Clean fuels and other means are the key to reducing air pollution in the short and medium term," the plan states.
"Upgrading the fleet of buses and taxis and establishing a light rail will pave the way to encouraging public transportation and the reduction of private vehicles".
The plan further recommends that after the infrastructure of public transportation improves, a congestion tax should be implemented in downtown Tel Aviv, as in London.
The plan also advises establishing park-and-ride lots and defining an area that is off-limits to polluting vehicles.
The strategic plan is not critical of the current municipality policy - strongly opposed by environmental organizations - of concentrating on improving and developing roads, interchanges and giant parking lots.
Responding to the recommendations, the local branch of the Society for Protection of Nature said "the conclusions presented in the plan place responsibility solely on the public transportation system, while it is clear that private vehicles have greatly contributed to air pollution as well.
"Giving priority to the allocation of exclusive bus lanes, and not private vehicles, would improve traffic flow and reduce air pollution."