Bucharest council has voted to scrap a proposal to hike public transport hikes, which the mayor said was necessary to save the capital’s public transport company from insolvency.
The fare increases would have been the first on buses and trams in five years.
Bucharest mayor Ciprian Ciucu said he was disappointed and the vote (23 voted for and 28 voted against or abstained) was political not based on the need to generate income for the public transport company that provides buses and trams for the city of two million.
“This is not about these projects, but about a political statement by the Social Democratic Party” the mayor who is from the National Liberal Party said.
He said the fare hike was necessary to prevent the Bucharest public transport company, STB from going bankrupt.
Fares were last hiked in 2021. The project states that the fare increase is based on the need to ensure the financial sustainability of the public transport service, as well as to maintain an appropriate level of quality, safety, and continuity. According to the proposal initiated by Mayor Ciprian Ciucu, STB fares would be as follows:
- One metropolitan trip / 90 minutes 6 to 10 lei
- One-month season ticket 80 to 100 lei
- Fine for riding without a ticket 80 to 200 lei
The mayor vowed to sort out Bucharest’s problems despite setbacks from the council.
After all the projects setbacks, Ciucu has vowed though to mend Bucharest issues.
“You voted for me to set things straight in Bucharest, and I thank you for that!
I am determined to do so, regardless of the “image costs” I might face.
