Current proposals handed to the Government point towards charging motorists per kilometre on previously unpaid motorways, or SCUT, such as the Algarve’s A22, which would render the overhead toll gantries useless for that particular purpose.
According to calculations by motoring magazine Autohoje, these gantries came at an average cost of 1.4 million euros, with 80 currently littered along a number of stretches on ten of Portugal’s motorways.
Back in January, António Ramalho termed the current overhead gantry system a “mistake” and set about calling for a “new model” to be found to collect tolls on previously unpaid motorways.
“Ten years ago, Portugal boasted the best toll system in the world – Via Verde”, he said, but added “the new gantry system contradicts the Via Verde system and is destructive from a marketing point of view.”
Ramalho added that there are currently “huge concerns in finding a new model, but we are not going to make a mistake just because we are in hurry and end up choosing the wrong model.”
António Ramalho has also previously admitted that the cost of maintaining these motorways had become “unsustainable and we hope it doesn’t stay the way it is. If it doesn’t change, we will not have enough money to conserve, preserve and maintain our road network.”
But according to latest reports coming out of the Economy Ministry, under which the Transport Secretary and António Ramalho operate, sources have this week admitted that a final decision on the matter will be left to whoever takes office following the October general elections.
It is believed that presenting the subject for debate in the coming months would see the matter politicised, which could be harmful to the coalition’s chances of holding on to power for another four years.
The proposed system, which had been under review, advocates that motorists pay per kilometre on these SCUT motorways as opposed to the current model where drivers pay per stretch travelled.
Studies also said that motorists living in poorer regions, such as rural Portugal, would be the recipients of ‘positive discrimination’ and would be charged less than those in wealthier regions such as the Algarve or the Greater Lisbon Metropolitan Area.
This news comes as EP announced its profits had risen to 17 million euros during the financial year ending December 2014, which it said was 12 percent up on the previous year.
But despite an increase in revenue from previously unpaid motorways being attributed to this positive result, the current system sees 34 percent of profits channelled towards administrative costs. It is argued that the new system, even with lower costs to motorists, would see an increase in revenue due to a substantial reduction in operating costs.
Last year, a preliminary report revealed that moving trucks and commercial vehicles onto these motorways at a reduced cost to companies could translate into actual savings for the state due to the damage caused by these vehicles which have flooded secondary routes since the introduction of tolls on SCUT motorways back in 2010.
The report did not exclude passenger cars receiving similar discounts under the same principle, as the state hopes to gain some revenue from these motorways while saving on roadworks on secondary routes such as the Algarve’s EN125.
Instead of overhead gantries, the new proposed system will see motorists “charged electronically” upon leaving a motorway.
Two single and separate cameras will be placed at motorway on-ramps and off-ramps, with road users no longer able to avoid tolls on certain parts of motorways, which is currently the case due the logistic impossibility of placing gantries along particular stretches.
These cameras will take a photo of the back and front of a vehicle, while a third laser-like device will measure the height of the vehicle in order to calculate its size.
It is said the system will cost a “tenth of the existing gantries.”
Post-payment at venues such as CTT post offices has been earmarked by both the government and road companies as ineffective.
Amongst proposals is one that stipulates that drivers whose cars are not equipped with electronic devices will be required to pre-pay use of a motorway.
Sources in Lisbon had previously told The Portugal News the intention was for existing gantries to remain in place, saying they “might be used for other traffic-related activities.”
While no figures were available for 2014, EP said it failed to collect a total of €30.6 million from offending drivers back in 2013 and, on average, 19 percent of toll-road users fail to pay for using a SCUT motorway.