Estradas de Portugal will "very soon" deliver a report to the Government on yet another new tolling system for the formerly free SCUT roads. This will enable the government to “make a decision,” according to the ever-hopeful road company’s president.
António Ramalho said today that his company is working with Brisa and Ascendi to "find technical and operational solutions that will allow greater flexibility in the tolling system" on the former SCUT roads.
These solutions will "drastically reduced the cost of the current tolls systems" where in 2013 he managed to spend 25% of toll income on collecting the tolls, down marginally from 28% in 2012.
Ramalho claimed that operational tests of the novel idea of a "free flowing lane" where the car does not have to stop, and access on the A23 junctions where vehicles can be electronically detected by roadside equipment, are going ever so well.
The company reports that the placement of equipment for entry and exit monitoring is just one of the many delightful solutions being tested on the A23 and António Ramalho said that data from Brisa and Ascendi already are in his possession which will be sent to the Government "very soon" in a riveting report on this whole subject.
Estradas de Portugal are in contact with "other small operators who also have toll systems" such as Lusoponte, PortVias and the Algarve’s ViaLivre and the Government can decide which system it wants - so nice to be given a choice.
Ramalho has presided over a disaster at Estradas de Portugal and has presided over the introduction of inappropriate systems, widespread non-payment of tolls, huge costs in running toll systems and of collecting tolls, huge declines in tolled traffic, poor communication of the various payment systems, late delivery of a suitable nationwide toll system for the SCUT roads and a total failure to see any sort of larger picture. Let’s hope his next job is not so challenging.
