The Ministry of Public Works is testing a new toll paying system that would enable travelers to pre-pay road tolls and expedite their passage through toll booths. The system would also be used for security purposes as license plates would be read by the same system. There are four toll booths in the country – Las Americas Expressway, Santo Domingo, the two highways to San Cristobal, and the one leading north. There is a fifth one, whose construction is very much advanced on the La Vega-Santiago highway stretch, and a sixth that is contemplated for when the Santo Domingo-Samana highway is completed. The highways produce on average every month: Duarte (RD$14 million), Sanchez (RD$13 million), 6 de Noviembre (RD$10.5 million), Las Americas (RD$17.5 million).
The funds by law would be used to improve and maintain road infrastructure in the DR, but eventually by presidential decree in 2003 the funds were moved to pay for a debt the Ministry of Public Works owes the governmental Banco de Reservas. Sunday’s Listin Diario carried a report on the funds.