New rates for the Samana toll road

[Dolores]

Tourists returning from a vacation in Samana as of 1 January 2022 paid less for the return drive. The Ministry of Public Works and Communications announced the new lower tolls are in effect as of 1 January 2022 at the toll stations Autopista del Nordeste (Juan Pablo ll) and Boulevard Turístico del Atlántico toll stations.

The announcement follows the termination of the contract of the Dominican government with the builders and operators of the controversial Samana road. President Luis Abinader had said there would be an overall reduction of 20% in tolls when announcing the rescission of the contract with Autopistas del Nordeste consortium on 9 December 2021. Traffic on the road is estimated to increase 5%-10% with the reduction of the tolls.

As per the new rates, cars and SUVs will pay RD$400 at the Catey toll station, or RD$185 less. RD$200 at the Guaraguao toll, or RD$36 less...

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[william webster]

Not much of a discount except for the Samana stretch which was wacky high

But getting rid of the stupid odd pesos numbers is better - 201 to 200 & 236 to 200 etc

 

[CristoRey]

Not much of a discount except for the Samana stretch which was wacky high

But getting rid of the stupid odd pesos numbers is better - 201 to 200 & 236 to 200 etc

Doubt it will make much of a difference.

 

[NALs]

All government owned tolls are equipped to scanning Paso Rápido. There is no mention if the tolls on this road will be equipped with Paso Rápido capability too. It's similar to EZ-Pass in NY, Sun Pass in Florida, AutoExpreso in Puerto Rico, Via-T in Spain, etc.

 

[william webster]

Not now but yes.... might happen in the future

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

Phase one will be implementing vax card scan with toll payment debit.

 

[JD Jones]

Not now but yes.... might happen in the future

One would think so. I bet sooner than later.

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

One would think so. I bet sooner than later.

It's a very big deployment. RFID, debit credit e-commerce situation, database, equipment production, communications etc. If they haven't been working on it for the past 3 years, i expect not in the next 3

 

[keepcoming]

It's a very big deployment. RFID, debit credit e-commerce situation, database, equipment production, communications etc. If they haven't been working on it for the past 3 years, i expect not in the next 3

For such a new member you have a great input.

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

For such a new member you have a great input.

You did not click like

 

[JD Jones]

It's a very big deployment. RFID, debit credit e-commerce situation, database, equipment production, communications etc. If they haven't been working on it for the past 3 years, i expect not in the next 3

Umm... NALS was talking about installing PasoRapido on the Samana toll highway, not vax card scans.

 

[MariaRubia]

It's a very big deployment. RFID, debit credit e-commerce situation, database, equipment production, communications etc. If they haven't been working on it for the past 3 years, i expect not in the next 3

Is it though? They have the database in place. I presume they can buy additional readers similar to the ones installed on other highways. They have the solutions which work in other locations so these just need to be replicated. And I presume they have good internet connections already at each toll plaza. In my opinion getting new things up and running is something the DR often does quicker than more developed countries. Keeping them operational is a whole other subject.

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

Is it though? They have the database in place. I presume they can buy additional readers similar to the ones installed on other highways. They have the solutions which work in other locations so these just need to be replicated. And I presume they have good internet connections already at each toll plaza. In my opinion getting new things up and running is something the DR often does quicker than more developed countries. Keeping them operational is a whole other subject.

You said it's not a big implentation and then we find out it's your take on this based on a few key assumptions you are making. Ok maybe you're right, maybe they have a head start on a database, but there's a whole logistics component and we don't have the best track record there. Sure they can get stuff up and running, but then spend 2 years working out bugs because it wasn't properly tested.

Jeez someone had their coffee early.

Adding here that's "if" they will use the motor vehicle database of which @william webster loves to sing the praises! But there are many other components for this program, so they would have to create more tables and do further dev and testing. Trust me I've implemented many systems here in private organizations, it's always at least 2x what you think, easily.

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

Umm... NALS was talking about installing PasoRapido on the Samana toll highway, not vax card scans.

Paso rápido is an RFID based with e-commerce. You buy credits, bill debit and credit cards, you have to have devices distribution and pick up. They will easily merge the vax scan with your license plate scan for the toll charge.

Your vax status is just one mySQL table away from being a reality folks!
Jab_vax=SI
Jab_vax=NO

 

[windeguy]

Paso rápido is an RFID based with e-commerce. You buy credits, bill debit and credit cards, you have to have devices distribution and pick up. They will easily merge the vax scan with your license plate scan for the toll charge.

Your vax status is just one mySQL table away from being a reality folks!
Jab_vax=SI
Jab_vax=NO

Vax status was available months ago in a computer data base. QR code took several attempts several weeks ago but now is readily available. Please try to keep up with current events. Vax status data base is old news.

Does Paso Rapido accept bitcoin yet?

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

Vax status was available months ago in a computer data base. QR code took several attempts several weeks ago but now is readily available. Please try to keep up with current events. Vax status data base is old news.

Does Paso Rapido accept bitcoin yet?

It is local, not international

 

[JD Jones]

We're talking about adding PasoRapido scanners at what? 3 or 4 stations? Nothing difficult about that.

And please help me understand, what does passing through a toll booth have to do with vax status?

 

[william webster]

3 booths plus the Samana stretch..... very little width to add new lanes

The new SD bypass is causing backups at the 1st booth.... long lines both ways

 

[drstock]

For such a new member you have a great input.

I have a feeling he was a big "contributor" a little while ago, under a different handle.

 

[NALs]

We're talking about adding PasoRapido scanners at what? 3 or 4 stations? Nothing difficult about that.

And please help me understand, what does passing through a toll booth have to do with vax status?

Small tolls at that.

Maybe some folks don't fully understand how Paso Rápido works, be ause there is nothing about it in English except this:

Paso Rápido

Some how some think that installing Paso Rápido on the Samaná Highway is paramount when most tolls in the country already have the system. The latest tolls added to Paso Rápido are the new ones on the Santo Domingo Beltway. Before those it was the tolls in the Coral Highway out in the middle of nowhere between Punta Cana and La Romana.

The average expat should not be worried about this because there are hardly any tolls in expat hotspots like Sosúa or Cabarete. However, don't be surprise if tolls are included in things like the Cabarete Beltway or turning the stretch of the highway from Puerto Plata to Cabarete a four lane road with median (whenever it happens). Then having Paso Rápido may become more of a need for many expats.