site.btaTransport Sector Associations Insist on Six-Month Test Period for Electronic Road Tolls
NW 15:04:01 14-05-2019
LG1509NW.112
112 ECONOMY - ROAD TOLLS - HAULIERS - POSITION
Transport Sector Associations
Insist on Six-Month Test Period
for Electronic Road Tolls
Sofia, May 14 (BTA) - Seven associations in the transport and freight-forwarding sectors have come up with a joint position insisting on a six-month test period for the electronic road toll system for vehicles heavier than 3.5 tonnes gross weight.
The system is due to go into operation in Bulgaria as from August 16, 2019.
"The transport sector backs the introduction of the road toll system in Bulgaria but wants this to be done under clear rules, complied-with technical requirements and transparency," reads the position unveiled at a BTA-hosted news conference on Tuesday.
The document is signed by the Union of International Hauliers, the Association of Bulgarian Enterprises for International Road Transport and Roads, the Confederation of Bus Carriers, the National Association of Bulgarian Carriers, the Chamber of Bulgarian Road Hauliers, the Association of Bulgarian Fuel Traders, Manufacturers, Importers and Carriers, and the Bulgarian Association of Road Transport Unions.
Yordan Arabadjiev said at the news conference that the whole process of implementation and testing of the system is fraught with ambiguities.
The transport sector noted the importance of the availability of the tolling enforcement gantries that have been installed and the relevant equipment and cameras, which is part of the control system. They insist on strict compliance with the technical requirements when the toll system is set up and note that this is the best guarantee of its riskless and chaos-free implementation.
IT expert Martin Dimitrov explained that 420 tolling enforcement gantries are supposed to be installed, including 100 new ones. Their building is part of the contract with the contractor company. "Without gantries, the Road Infrastructure Agency cannot possibly detect the toll dodgers," he commented.
The associations also insist to be provided with a map of the gantries in place and their adjoining equipment with location coordinates before the start of the tests.
Another demand is that the toll system be limited to the motorways and the first-class roads which are part of the European transport corridors. "Transit traffic through Bulgaria is quite heavy, and the focus should go on transit traffic while relaxing the rules for inland-market operators," Arabadjiev argued.
The transport and freight-forwarding business suggest that German system be adopted for fixing the amount of road tolls in Bulgaria with an adjustment for the Bulgarian GDP, which is about a fifth of Germany's.
They would like to see opportunities explored to offer incentives to carriers on the domestic market which perform social functions by delivering prime necessities, similar to bus transport.
The associations described the current dialogue with the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works as "going through the motions" and warned that the lack of clarity and timely information creates prerequisites for chaos in the business and insecurity for the public. The position listing their demands and proposals will be submitted to the Prime Minister, who will be asked for assistance.
"We don't think that the form of dialogue with the Government and the administration is a protest, none of us wishes to enter into confrontation, but if a protest is needed, we'll stage it. I believe that things won't get that far," Magdalena Miltenova of the Confederation of Bus Carriers said, replying to a question.
* * *
The first stage of tests of the toll system, which will charge heavy-duty traffic for road use on the basis of the distance travelled, is starting on May 15, the Road Infrastructure Agency said in a press release on Tuesday. At first, simulations will be run of data about traffic on the national road network, whereas actual data will not be collected in the field.
The technical scope of the system, set in the terms of reference for its development, is 10,800 km. The test rates that will be applied are based on a World Bank report of 2016.
The five basic components of the system will be tested by stages in the coming months. World Bank experts will be present at the tests, and they will be supposed, just as before, to monitor, verify and assess the results of the tests. LI/LG
//
LG1509NW.112
112 ECONOMY - ROAD TOLLS - HAULIERS - POSITION
Transport Sector Associations
Insist on Six-Month Test Period
for Electronic Road Tolls
Sofia, May 14 (BTA) - Seven associations in the transport and freight-forwarding sectors have come up with a joint position insisting on a six-month test period for the electronic road toll system for vehicles heavier than 3.5 tonnes gross weight.
The system is due to go into operation in Bulgaria as from August 16, 2019.
"The transport sector backs the introduction of the road toll system in Bulgaria but wants this to be done under clear rules, complied-with technical requirements and transparency," reads the position unveiled at a BTA-hosted news conference on Tuesday.
The document is signed by the Union of International Hauliers, the Association of Bulgarian Enterprises for International Road Transport and Roads, the Confederation of Bus Carriers, the National Association of Bulgarian Carriers, the Chamber of Bulgarian Road Hauliers, the Association of Bulgarian Fuel Traders, Manufacturers, Importers and Carriers, and the Bulgarian Association of Road Transport Unions.
Yordan Arabadjiev said at the news conference that the whole process of implementation and testing of the system is fraught with ambiguities.
The transport sector noted the importance of the availability of the tolling enforcement gantries that have been installed and the relevant equipment and cameras, which is part of the control system. They insist on strict compliance with the technical requirements when the toll system is set up and note that this is the best guarantee of its riskless and chaos-free implementation.
IT expert Martin Dimitrov explained that 420 tolling enforcement gantries are supposed to be installed, including 100 new ones. Their building is part of the contract with the contractor company. "Without gantries, the Road Infrastructure Agency cannot possibly detect the toll dodgers," he commented.
The associations also insist to be provided with a map of the gantries in place and their adjoining equipment with location coordinates before the start of the tests.
Another demand is that the toll system be limited to the motorways and the first-class roads which are part of the European transport corridors. "Transit traffic through Bulgaria is quite heavy, and the focus should go on transit traffic while relaxing the rules for inland-market operators," Arabadjiev argued.
The transport and freight-forwarding business suggest that German system be adopted for fixing the amount of road tolls in Bulgaria with an adjustment for the Bulgarian GDP, which is about a fifth of Germany's.
They would like to see opportunities explored to offer incentives to carriers on the domestic market which perform social functions by delivering prime necessities, similar to bus transport.
The associations described the current dialogue with the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works as "going through the motions" and warned that the lack of clarity and timely information creates prerequisites for chaos in the business and insecurity for the public. The position listing their demands and proposals will be submitted to the Prime Minister, who will be asked for assistance.
"We don't think that the form of dialogue with the Government and the administration is a protest, none of us wishes to enter into confrontation, but if a protest is needed, we'll stage it. I believe that things won't get that far," Magdalena Miltenova of the Confederation of Bus Carriers said, replying to a question.
* * *
The first stage of tests of the toll system, which will charge heavy-duty traffic for road use on the basis of the distance travelled, is starting on May 15, the Road Infrastructure Agency said in a press release on Tuesday. At first, simulations will be run of data about traffic on the national road network, whereas actual data will not be collected in the field.
The technical scope of the system, set in the terms of reference for its development, is 10,800 km. The test rates that will be applied are based on a World Bank report of 2016.
The five basic components of the system will be tested by stages in the coming months. World Bank experts will be present at the tests, and they will be supposed, just as before, to monitor, verify and assess the results of the tests. LI/LG
//
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