JAMAICAN motorists, who are already reeling from the effects of weekly increases in gas prices, will today be asked to pay more to use all three legs of Highway 2000, the nation’s high-speed motorway.
The increases will range from 16.6 per cent to 66.6 per cent for the three legs in Portmore, Spanish Town and the Vineyards, Bushy Park - all in the parish of St Catherine.
The increase in the toll rates, which was scheduled to take place on Tuesday (July 1), was delayed to allow members of the public time to submit objections. However, the transport ministry reported that only one response was received.
"We only received one written submission from an individual, although the advertisement requested submissions," said the ministry’s communication manager Reginald Allen.
Transport Minister Mike Henry told the Observer that the recommended rates were taken to Cabinet recently, at which time the increase rates were signed off on.
"The matter had been passed back for the procedure to follow where the toll would be advertised. I am aware that it came out in the press and the subsequent days that are required by law will expire on July 5, when the actual toll will be collected from the travelling public," said Henry.
The toll rates, which are now reviewed annually instead of every six months, could go up again next July.
With the increases, drivers of class one vehicles (motor cars) travelling through the Vineyards toll plaza will be required to pay $230, an increase of $40, while class two vehicles (SUVs) will pay $310, a $60 jump.
Class three vehicles — buses and trucks — will pay $580, an increase of $100.
Motorists travelling the Spanish Town and Portmore legs of the highway will see an increase of $10 and $40 respectively, taking the previous rate from $60 to $70 and $100 for class one vehicles.
Rates will move from $80 to $90 for class two vehicles using the Spanish Town toll plaza, while motorists using the Portmore leg will pay $140, up from $100. Class three vehicles will attract a toll rate of $180 for the Spanish Town leg and $280 in Portmore.
In the meantime, Henry told the Observer that on his recent one-week trip to the United Kingdom and Germany he held talks with Keith Harris, chairman of Seymour Pierce Investment Bankers, about securing a US$330-million bond to finance the next phase of Highway 2000.
- By Ingrid Brown, Senior Staff Reporter
