The Hessian Economics and Transport Minister Tarek Al-Wazir had a vision when he took office at the beginning of 2014.
The Green politician had in mind a “citizen ticket” that would enable everyone in Hesse to travel by bus or train all year round for a flat rate.
He approached this goal step by step: in 2017 the student ticket was introduced for 365 euros per year, followed a year later by the free ticket for state employees and in 2020 the senior citizen ticket – like the ticket for students and trainees for a standard price of 365 euros per year.
The corona pandemic and the associated financial challenges then seemed to thwart Al-Wazir.
With the prospect of the “Hessenpass mobile” for people with little money for 31 euros a month and thanks to the introduction of the 49-euro ticket at federal level for everyone, the minister’s vision has now become reality.
Every Hessian will soon be able to travel by bus and train in his federal state at a flat rate: for 49 or even just 31 euros a month, for 365 euros a year or for free if he is an employee or trainee in the state.
With its flat-rate offers, Hesse has become a role model and a kind of spiritual pioneer of the 49-euro ticket at the federal level.
The CDU/Greens coalition in Wiesbaden is also moving in the right direction with the new, targeted offer for those who are really in need - those who receive citizen benefit, housing benefit plus or social assistance, especially since the costs are manageable at a maximum of 15 million euros a year.
If Al-Wazir now also keeps his promise to offer the “Hessenpass mobile” as early as May 1st, that would be the culmination of an extraordinary success story.
The fact that, nine months before the state elections, it would also be a veritable campaign coup, one should begrudge the designated top candidate of the Greens.