site.btaRoad Hauliers, Road Agency Officials Hold Consultations on Electronic Toll System

119 ECONOMY - ROAD TOLL SYSTEM - CONSULTATIONS

Road Hauliers, Road Agency Officials
Hold Consultations on Electronic
Toll System

July 16 (BTA) - A working group of experts representing road hauliers and the Road Infrastructure Agency held a second meeting on Tuesday to discuss the toll rates and the roads to be covered by an electronic road toll system which will charge vehicles heavier than 3.5 tonnes gross weight on the basis of the distance travelled, replacing the current vignette system.

A test run of the system will begin on August 16, and the start of its commercial operation is scheduled for March 1, 2020.

An option that is being weighed at this point is for a minimum toll rate of 0.12-0.14 leva/km for a truck weighing over 12 tonnes with more than three axles, meeting the Euro 6 emission standard.

Another proposal made at Tuesday's meeting is to install cameras on all roads tolled to control the number of truck axles and to fit special sensors in the roadway to make sure that the vehicles are not overloaded and fine the offenders.

It is also proposed to offer discounts to active carriers: 10 per cent of the toll for 5,000 km/month for vehicles heavier than 12 tonnes, meeting the Euro 6 emission standard, 20 per cent for 7,500 km/month, and 30 per cent for over 10,000 km/month.

The experts also suggest the setting up of a public board of representatives of the haulage industry, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the National Customs Agency, the Traffic Police and the Road Transport Administration, which should control the way the road toll proceeds are spent.

The National Toll Administration assured everybody concerned that all tolling enforcement gantries will be installed by August 16. IG/LG
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