Transport
Minister Asks For Reduction On Santa Ana
Tolls
The ministra de Obras Públicas y Transportes
(MOPT), Karla González, is responding to the
demands of residents of Santa Ana to reduce
or eliminate the tolls at Piedades de Santa
Ana.
To that end, the ministra is expected
to make a formal request to the Autoridad
Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep)
to review the toll charges on the new
highway to Caldera.
The proposal expected is to ask the Aresep
for a reduction of 50% of the toll charges
that are not yet in effect. That would mean
that the tolls at Santa Ana would be lowered
to ¢80 from ¢160 colones (each way).
The MOPT says it expects the Aresep to heed
to the wishes of the transport minister and
have a decision in not more than eight days.
Ministra González said the ¢80 colones toll
is based on a calculation made in 1998 and
lowering to that amount would in no way
affect the concession contract with
Autopistas del Sol.
The residents of Santa Ana have been up in
arms since the ¢160 colones toll charge was
announced, demonstrating on several
occasions near the toll stations and at the
Santa Ana main intersection, blocking
traffic on the highway, prompting ministra
González to respond.
The move could also have an effect on the
Escazú toll of ¢310 (each way), as residents
and businesses in the area are complaining
of the high cost of the tolls, being dubbed
the "highway for the rich" and the effect of
the spill over traffic on the alternate road
through Escazú.
Carolina Mora, spokesperson for the Aresep,
said that the public regulator has yet to
receive any formal request by the MOPT. "We
are waiting in anticipation and will act
accordingly when received", said Mora, who
confirmed that a decision on this type of
matter is usually within eight to ten days.
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