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PORTMORE TOLL RATES ANNOUNCED

From left to right, Mr. Ivan Anderson, Consulting Engineer, NROCC, Mrs. Genefa Hibbert, Director General, Dr. Alwin Hales, Permanent Secretary, Minister Robert Pickersgill, State Minister Richard Azan and Mrs. Sharon Hay-Webster, MP for South Central St. Catherine

Minister Robert Pickersgill made the announcement as to the rates which will be required for passage on the Portmore leg of Highway 2000 at a press conference at the Ministry’s Corporate Office on Friday, July 7.

• Commuters will be asked to pay $500.00 for a minimum of 10 passages per week or $50.00 per passage. For those who will be using the road more frequently, every additional passage within the week will be at a further 20% decrease, or for $40.00 per passage, moving from a cap of $79.00. For purposes of the toll the week runs from Friday night to midnight Friday night.
• For non-tag passages or cash transaction, the toll will be $60.00 for class one vehicles.
• Class Two vehicles with the T-Tag will attract a cost of $90.00 for a minimum of 10 passages with each passage after that costing $80.00 moving from a cap of $157.00.
• Non-tag passages or cash will cost $100.00
• Motorists driving Class 3 Vehicles, will with the T-Tag, pay $200
• The T-Tag may be topped up, just as a cell phone with call credit; the only exception is it does not expire.
• Motorists will not be handling money every time they arrive at the toll plaza. With the electronic toll collection process, they will be spending little or no time in the toll plaza.

The T-Tag may also be used for passage along other sections of the Highway; however the Portmore discount only applies to passage through the Portmore toll plaza.

In outlining the background behind the Portmore leg of Highway 2000, the Minister explained that the concept of a trans-Jamaican highway was first considered over 40 years ago and was revived in 1994 when it was decided that the Build-Operate-Transfer model would be employed. As a public-private sector initiative, Highway 2000 is 100% financed by the Developer. Included in the financing is a loan from the National Road Operating and Construction Company (NROCC) representing 27.5% of the overall financing.

The Minister explained that there were four significant points that were to be addressed in dealing with the Toll Issue. These are: the cost of the Portmore section of the Highway, the alternative route, remedial works on the access roads to the Highway and consultations with stakeholders.

The cost of the Portmore leg of Highway 2000 is valued at US$100 million and this attracts an average interest of US$12 million per year. The Minister mentioned that that there was in fact an alternative route and this would be upgraded in the coming weeks. The Minister also explained that remedial work had commenced on both Passagefort Drive and Port Henderson Road and major works were expected to commence over the next few days. The cost of these works is approximately J$400 million.

The Minister revealed that reaching this milestone took several years of negotiation and discussion with a host of stakeholders. He said that the Government had been forthright with all the details related to the Highway and there had been a raft of public consultations and information sharing, which included everything from comprehensive newspaper supplements to small community meetings.

The Toll is benchmarked against the US dollar and the US Consumer Price Index. Ihn April 2002the initial toll estimated at J$45.10 was published. In establishing the toll, responses submitted from concerned citizens who were invited to send in comments via notices in the newspapers, were evaluated. 119 submissions were received. Among these comments, were some from several organisations including the National Association of Taxi Operators (NATO), the Portmore Municipality, Jamaica Confederations of Trade Unions and the Portmore Citizens Advisory Council. The recommendations ranged from $30.00 to $50.00.

The cost of any subsidies which would have to be paid for by the Government of Jamaica and ultimately the taxpayer and which might have a negative effect on other programmes had to be also taken into consideration.

Minister Pickersgill hoped that the citizens of Portmore would favour the toll arrangement; he also extended his appreciation to the many persons who participated in the discussion. The Portmore section of the Highway will officially be opened on Saturday July 15, 2006.