All motorways in Spain 'should have toll fees' which would earn the State 10 billion euros
Tuesday, October 15, 2013 @ 12:04 PM
MOTORWAY toll companies say the Spanish State should apply fees to all major trunk roads because it would provide up to 10 billion euros extra a year for the public coffers.
Members of the association of toll firms, ASETA, says it is 'inevitable' that currently free-to-use motorways would eventually become toll roads 'sooner or later', because it is 'not economically viable' for the State to continue to pay for the maintenance of its estimated 12,000 kilometres of main roads out of public funds.
Depending upon the type of toll – whether it is along sections of motorway, at certain hours of the day or for certain vehicles, or whether it is a blanket fee for all road-users – such a move could earn the State between 1.7 billion and 10 billion euros extra per annum.
Chairman of ASETA José Luis Feito is also chair of the Economic Commission of the CEOE, a national body representing Spanish industry, and says 'now is the right moment' for the government to consider applying tolls to its roads.
He says Spain is 'competing with countries like France and Germany' and has a road-maintenance budget of 'double or treble' that of either nation, and still does not spend enough on keeping the main highways in good condition.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com