The Santo Domingo-Samana toll highway, known as the Juan Pablo II Highway and Autopista del Nordeste, still depend on government subsidies. Reportedly, the government will have to come up with RD$2.5 billion to meet its concession contractual obligations for 2015. In just two years the subsidy has increased dramatically, from RD$933 million in 2013 to RD$2,272.1 million this year.
The rising tolls have had an adverse effect on traffic on the highway. The Samana Cluster warns that the road has harmed the tourism industry as domestic travelers choose to visit other destinations where the tolls are low.
The Juan Pablo II highway was built with Colombian investment and the concessionaire is in charge of administering the tollbooths for 30 years with a minimum guaranteed income, which, if not reached needs to be subsidized by the government. The 106.59km road has three tollbooths charging tolls ranging from just over RD$400 pesos for cars up to over RD$1600 pesos for large trucks.