Will the Ministry of Public Works go ahead with the announced decision to increase tolls from RD$30 to RD$100 on the Las Americas, Duarte, 6 de Noviembre and Sanchez highways? There is widespread opposition to last week’s announcement by Ministry of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo. The minister has said the government chose the increase in tolls rather than implement the November 2012 taxation measure that would levy a 1% tax on assessed vehicle value for circulation permits. The government has already postponed implementing this measure on two previous occasions.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works is preparing the toll booths for the two-way charge, as tolls are only charged in one direction on these four highways at present. A start date for the toll increase has not been announced.
An article in today’s El Dia, Wednesday 12 March says that even without the announced increase to RD$100 for the round trip on the Las Americas, 6 de Noviembre, Duarte and Carretera Sanchez highways, road tolls in the Dominican Republic are already the highest in Latin America. Journalist Leisy Torres lists all the tolls (in all categories) for seven of the country’s nine toll roads, with the exception of the eastern highways.
The report describes the plight of people who have to cross the tolls for work every day. On the Las Americas, 6 de Noviembre, Duarte and Sanchez highways the tolls are the same for commuting one kilometer as for 100 km.
When it made the announcement last week, the Ministry of Public Works said that the increase in tolls on the highways leaving Greater Santo Domingo would be effective by the end of the month. The government expects to recoup around RD$1.5 billion that has been spent on road renovations.
RD duplica el promedio más alto en pago peaje de América Latina
www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2014/03/11/i519901_aumento-del-peaje-este-mes.html