Promote autonomous public transportation: In recent years, Israel has acquired a place of honor in the field of smart transportation with over 600 Israeli startups in the field and over 20 development centers of car manufacturers and their suppliers. At the same time, in March 2022, an amendment to the Traffic Ordinance was approved that would allow more advanced experiments to be performed than those permitted today, including the commercial operation of an autonomous vehicle without a driver.
In addition, Israel is interested in integrating the existing technologies on the market into the public transportation system in Israel, with the understanding that in the future, transportation in Israel will be based on efficient and smart public transportation. Harnessing Israeli technological innovation in the field of autonomous vehicles in favor of improving the public transportation system in Israel will make Israel a world leader in experiments with autonomous public transportation.
To this end, the Ministry of Transportation, the National Authority for Public Transportation, the Innovation Authority, and the Ayalon Highway Company are launching an innovation project to support the conduct of experiments to promote autonomous public transportation. This is a two-stage project that aims to examine the feasibility of integrating autonomous vehicles in the public transportation system in Israel. NIS 20 million will be invested in the project.
The project includes an examination of various models of operation and their economic and operational efficiency, and will connect public transportation operators with innovative technology companies in Israel and around the world. The project will also increase public awareness of autonomous vehicles and their characteristics: safety, driving experience and environmental benefits.
In the first phase of the project, The Innovation Authority will issue a call for support for the testing of autonomous bus experiments by public transport operators who will connect to companies developing autonomous vehicle systems. The winners in the call will receive a grant and perform a series of experiments in a field of experiments and in operational areas in order to reach operational technological feasibility.
In the second phase of the project, Companies that successfully complete the first phase, and subject to all necessary regulatory approvals, will receive from the National Public Transport Authority a license to operate an independent public transport service on public roads, including passenger transportation. This means that within one to two years, citizens of the State of Israel will be able to board autonomously operated bus lines and enjoy the use of groundbreaking technology.
The project will also be able to map the infrastructure needed to operate an autonomous public transportation system, and support and test the business organization of public transportation operators, with the intention that companies that successfully complete the pilot will be given the opportunity to operate commercially for public transportation services in autonomous public vehicles in Israel.
Michal Frank, Director General of the Ministry of Transportation: “The project is a direct continuation of the precedent legislation that we passed in the Knesset, but not recently. The new legislation, which enables the commercial operation of autonomous vehicles without a driver, together with the publication of the current call for proposals, together express the Ministry’s vision for promoting public transportation and innovation in transportation in Israel. Thank you to our partners in the Innovation Authority and Ayalon Routes and invites public transportation operators and technology companies to participate and be a part of this historic step. ”
Dror Bin, CEO of the Innovation Authority: “The smart transportation project is expected to help dramatically with one of the biggest challenges facing the State of Israel: road congestion. Moving to the fleets of autonomous buses will help streamline the public transportation system, improve the level of safety and deal with the manpower problem and the shortage of drivers – all within a few years. Already today, Israel is one of the world’s leading countries in the field of autonomous vehicles, given the number of companies and research and development centers operating here. Along with promoting the regulation that will enable more advanced experiments, we strive to encourage and promote more experiments, in combination with the existing technologies in the municipal public transportation system in Israel. ”
Ayalon Highways CEO, Orly Stern: “The smart transportation project to integrate autonomous buses into the public transportation system is a significant power multiplier for future transportation solutions that Ayalon Highways promotes in order to deal with road congestion and improve safety. Ayalon Highways thanks for its cooperation with the Ministry of Transportation, the National Public Transportation Authority and the Innovation Authority in promoting experiments that promote sustainable public transportation and autonomous driving technologies that will lead to improving and streamlining the public transportation system in Israel. “