Tolls!

[Bruce Wallis]

Coming as it does from regular travelers

I would class my self as a 'regular traveller' and I can honestly say that I see no difference in the traffic volumes at the times I travel. In the main I travel between 8.00am and 9.30am - usually on Tuesdays or Wednesdays each week. My return journeys are between 6.00pm and 8.00pm on Thursdays or Fridays and while the roads are quiet - I put that down to the time of year. It was no different last year - I believe.

I'm not seeking to open a debate on this matter - I believe the situation is one that every country has to face up to in these harsh economic times and its not negotiable - the authorities have no intention of backing down. The issue here is the haphazard way they have introduced the process and their continued mis-management of it - something that will not change in the foreseeable future - so get used to it

I love it when you get all masterful.

I now consider myself put in my place......well me, and anybody else who labours under the misconception that there has been a significant reduction of traffic on the A22, and that there is a significant shift of traffic flow onto the N125.

[cereza]

My brother just came back after 2 weeks in CVO. He used the A22 to and from the airport and said it was dead whereas his friend used the N125 and got stuck for an hour in traffic. I'm with your consensus Bruce

[Dial]

We have just arrived back from CVO. We had our car from travelrent as always, and on arrival I asked again about the tolls. Basically he said there are four options! 1,2,and 3 do not use A22, 4th option is to pay tolls at post office.
However, i think like the majority of us would agree if there was a clear and easier way to pay then we would be happy to do so. We did not use the A22 and used 125 on both journeys and it took about 55 mins. However, I think the peak season is going to be another issue. As far as i can see the car hire companys are just as exasperated as we are with lack of information and a flexible pay mehcnanism. I just hope something more efficent and straight forward will be in place before the real season starts, as it is going to be total chaos. I have no issue with paying but it is the toal lack of common sense and easier payment method which is the issue.

[R.Wethereyet]

Translated from Diário de Notícias regarding the effect of tolls on the former SCUTS.

The A22 seems to be the one that has been the hardest hit.

Tolls: Service areas of ex-SCUT with shortfalls in sales that reach 60%

The three major oil companies with gas stations on the former SCUT admit there were sharp falls in sales - which reached 60%, according to one of the companies - since they introduced tolls on those roads, on 08 December. Questioned by Lusa, Galp, Cepsa and Repsol acknowledge that the introduction of tolls on highways A22, A23, A24 and A25 gave them a sharp decline in revenues in sales of the service areas, fuel, tobacco and restaurants. Of the three companies, one that goes beyond a simple recognition of the global slump in sales is Spain's Cepsa, which states that even before the introduction of tolls in 2010 and 2011, the net result of its 11 service areas on Portuguese motorways "on the whole was negative." The company adds that since December the drop was even more significant because they have maintained service levels." For the two outlets on the A22 (Via Infante, Algarve), CEPSA estimates a reduction in sales of 50% and a 60% drop was reflected in fuel. In a short reply sent to Lusa, Galp, a company with more service areas on highways and former SCUTS (no cost to the user), admits that the breach was already very strong before the collection of tolls, but adds that this trend will be reinforced "very clearly from December." With 26 service areas on motorways, the Spanish oil company Repsol admitted that the introduction of tolls on old SCUT and the consequent decrease of traffic on those routes have reflected "a sharp fall in business. " None of the three oil envisaged such dramatic reductions in sales.
According to the latest data available from late January, the A22 traffic decreased 48.1% in December 2011 in relation to the same month last year, but this was justified by the Roads of Portugal ( Estradas de Portugal - S.A.) not just because of the tolls, but also with the economy. On the other three routes which are now tolled, in December they recorded decreases between 19.4% and 29.4%.

[shanagarry]

Over the last 3 weekends I have driven 4 return journeys to the airport - 3 on a Saturday and the other on a Sunday using the A22 and on every occasion my transponder has not beeped at any of the gantries. I have just returned now and had the same result.

Last Monday morning at the dawn - the same journey - getting on at Alcantarilha - it beeped at all three of the gantries. I came back on Thursday from the airport on the same route and it beeped at all three. I had thought that I might have a faulty transponder - I don't believe I do given the regularity and consistency of the 'no beeps'. It has previously beeped at weekends.

Could this be some form of concession without it being made public knowledge

[joeysoap]

what if any charges were deducted from the transponder 'kitty'?

[shanagarry]

what if any charges were deducted from the transponder 'kitty'?

Presumably you mean added to the 'bill' as I have not made any advance payment?

As stated previously - I have had an active transponder (since the beginning) but as yet have not had a cent deducted from my bank account. I have had a Portuguese friend of mine check with the Via Verde people and as far as they are concerned my transponder has been activated but as yet, according to them, I have not incurred any costs. From the journeys I have made I know I owe them €57 and some change - an amount that will be added to every week with at least one weekly return journey for the foreseeable future.

Statistics explaining the impact on the businesses on the A22 (serious reduction in fuel sales etc) have been produced by those affected by the imposition of the tolls and not by the toll administrators - it would be interesting to know how much money is outstanding on their ledgers for journeys undertaken but not paid for and more to the point - what are they going to do about it?

I'm in no rush to put them right

[logicbob]

Could it be that as a resident that you allowed so may free journeys a month and as yet you have not incurred any costs?

[shanagarry]

Could it be that as a resident

I am not a formal resident so I don't qualify for the free journeys

[joeysoap]

Thanks for reply, Shanagarry, that was what I meant. I thought you had to preload the transponder and the tolls would reduce the credit.

I used a hired car in December and used the motorway to and from the airport and nothing yet from the hire company (they informed me that they would have destroyed the credit card impress by this stage anyway).

I suppose you could say that the gantry's look professional, everything else to do with the tolls...............

[Bruce Wallis]

One money saving tip.....

Join or leave the the A22 at Silves, to or from the airport, toll about 6.30 euros, including IVA
Join or leave at Alcantrillia, only 3 euros!!

[shanagarry]

Join or leave at Alcantrillia, only 3 euros!!

Go just past Algarve Shopping to the Albufeira junction and join for only €1.95 (if you have time)

[Bruce Wallis]

Join or leave at Alcantrillia, only 3 euros!!

Go just past Algarve Shopping to the Albufeira junction and join for only €1.95 (if you have time)

Or stay on the N125....and it's free

[shanagarry]

Or stay on the N125

I don't usually have that much time

[steve]

Shanagarry Does "not a formal resident" indicate a releaxed approach to the legal requirements of residencia or that you do not spend enough time here annually to trigger the residencia requirements? From the nature of your posts I had perhaps mistakenly assumed that you lived here full time.