page_title: Jerusalem Light Rail
section_title: Budgetary problems and criticism of operator
hierarchical_section_title: Jerusalem Light Rail / Controversy / Budgetary problems and criticism of operator
caption_attribution_description: English: Jerusalem light train constructions עברית: העבודות על הרכבת הקלה בירושלים
context_page_description: The Jerusalem Light Rail is a light rail system in Jerusalem, Israel. Currently, the Red Line is the only one in operation, the first of several light rail lines planned in Jerusalem.
  Construction on the Red line began in 2002 and ended in 2010, when the testing phase began. It was built by the CityPass consortium, which has a 30-year concession to operate it. The project required construction of the Jerusalem Chords Bridge as well as other renovation projects around Jerusalem.
  After repeated delays due to archaeological discoveries and technical issues, service began, initially free of charge, on August 19, 2011. It became fully operational on December 1, 2011. The line is 13.9 kilometers long with 23 stops. Extensions to the red line are currently under construction to the Israeli settlement of Neve Yaakov and to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital to the southwest. When completed in 2021, these will extend the line's length to 22.5 km.
context_section_description: The financial management of the project was criticized in May 2008 by State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, who reported a 128% deviation in funds, from an estimated NIS 500 million to NIS 1.14 billion. It was also noted that the government had spent NIS 1.2 billion on the project up to 2007, which pointed to a further deviation. The total cost of the initial line (not including the planned extensions) is estimated at 3.8 billion NIS (approx. US $1.1 billion).
  In 2002, the government of Israel signed an agreement with the operator, CityPass, regarding the future operation of the light rail. The agreement was made public in 2012, and generated controversy over a clause where the government pledged to remove competition to the light rail from other public transportation. For instance, there would not be two consecutive bus stops on the same line adjacent to the light rail's route. CityPass stated that before the light rail there had not been competition either, with all public transportation being operated by Egged.
  Upon buying a ticket, each traveler is required to validate it inside the rail car, and the fine for not doing so (or not buying a ticket) is NIS 186. This has created considerable controversy, and CityPass has been accused of handing out fines indiscriminately in order to raise its income—the company made NIS 2.4 million in the first half year on fines. Litigative and legislative efforts have been made to curb CityPass's power in this regard. An appeal committee will be created to deal with requests to cancel fines.
  In 2012 Haviv Rettig Gur criticized CityPass for automatically expiring single ride tickets at the end of the day they were purchased even if they were never used. CityPass does not provide refunds. Rettig Gur wrote "Though I have no proof, I am convinced the expiration policy is intentional." As of 2015 this policy still remains in place. Pinchas M. Orbach identified a technical issue where a customer would not be able to use a legitimate transfer. He wrote "The CityPass Rav Kav system is unable to properly read a '90 minute transfer from Egged' if a new virtual punch card was purchased on the Rav Kav in between the original Egged ride and the Light Rail ride." Therefore, even if a passenger was traveling within the 90 minutes allowed for free transfers an inspector using CityPass equipment to read the Rav Kav would erroneously believe the fare was not paid and issue a fine. CityPass did not respond to the report nor fix the problem.
caption: Light rail under construction
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