No public transport fare rise but reduced usage of lights in Budapest

Gergely Karácsony, mayor of Budapest said that public transport fares will not rise in Budapest. However, he announced some proposals for energy conservation, which include reduced usage of decoration lights in the city. 

Public transport fares will not rise

According to 24.hu, the price of tickets and season tickets in Budapest will not rise. They will remain at the same level which has been valid since January 2014. “We are not raising the price of line tickets and season tickets because there is no fare rise that would solve the budgetary problems of the public transportation company in Budapest.” – wrote the mayor on Facebook.  The state is more and more reluctant to finance the public transport in Budapest. Now, they contribute only 6 percent, he added. “This number is also way more modest than in other European countries, but it is at the forefront of something else: the deduction of the city’s own resources.” Only 24- or 72-hour tickets and surcharges will increase.

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Proposals for energy conservation

The first “Energy Summit” was held at Town Hall on Monday. – reported index.hu. According to the mayor, the energy crisis and rising energy prices are “everyday reality”. In the last decade, there were not enough “green and sustainability investments” in Hungary, he said. Budapest has had the second-largest increase in average temperatures in the past 50 years among major European cities. The average temperature in the capital is already 4 degrees higher.

The 4 proposals:

1. The usage of decoration lights will be shortened by two hours. In the summer, lights will be turned off after 11 pm.
2. In the summer months, buildings will be cooled to a maximum of 25 degrees. In the winter months, to a maximum of 20 degrees.
3. Continue “less energy and fuel-intensive transport investments and vehicle replacement”.
4. By 2030, they want to make the utilities of Budapest function by using the energy the city produces.

Need for European funding

“Of course, these initiatives also require European resources and a partnership with the government” – said Gergely Karácsony. Budapest is ready and able to use its European relations. However, it is also necessary for the government to return to the rule of law and for Hungary to have access to EU funds. The mayor counts on both European funding and government partnership.

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Source: index.hu, 24.hu