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Starting March 30, tolls in São Paulo will be reduced by up to 35,5%! That's right, drivers who pass through Castello Branco and Raposo Tavares will pay much less.
The government of São Paulo announced a significant reduction in toll rates on some highways in the state.
According to the state government, tolls on the Sorocabana and Nova Raposo lots, which were recently granted to the private sector, will be reduced by up to 35,5% in tariffs.
The change, which was announced this Friday (21), will directly affect drivers who use important sections of the Castello Branco and Raposo Tavares highways.
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This measure is accompanied by a series of changes to the charging model, which promises to transform the way drivers pay for concessions.
Ecorodovias, the company that took over the concession of 92 kilometers of highways, including sections of Raposo Tavares (SP-270) and White Castle (SP-280), starts to adopt the system free flow.
In this new charging model, the driver pays according to the distance traveled, instead of paying a fixed fee when passing through each toll plaza.
The change will be implemented next Sunday, 30/3, when the new rates will come into effect.
As toll rates for automatic booths, those with the payment system nonstop, will have a reduction of up to 35,5%.
A São Paulo State Transportation Agency (Artsp) reported that the new toll structure was designed to mainly benefit drivers who use these automatic systems, who, due to their efficiency and speed, will have more advantageous discounts.
Furthermore, the São Paulo government highlighted that manual tolls, those that require the vehicle to stop, will also undergo adjustments, but in a more moderate way.
Fares for these cabins will be reduced by between 19,8% and 21,4%, depending on the section.
What changes with the reduction in toll rates?
Changes in toll rates directly affect drivers who travel on highways under concession by Ecorodovias.
As Castello Branco and Raposo Tavares highways, which are some of the most important in the state of São Paulo, have heavy traffic, especially on the stretch between the capital and the interior of São Paulo.
The reduction in tariffs will be significant, positively impacting costs for those traveling on these roads.
To illustrate the magnitude of the change, let’s compare the rates before and after the reduction.
No Sorocabana lot, which includes the Castello Branco highway, the toll at the Itu plaza (km 72,8) will increase from R$15,80 to R$11,97 for automatic cabins, which represents a drop of 24,2%.
For manual cabins, the value will drop from R$12,60 to R$12,60, representing a reduction of 20,2%.
Another relevant section is the toll in São Roque, also on the Castello Branco highway, which will undergo a reduction of 23,8% for the automatic cabins, and 19,8% for manual cabins, moving from R$12,60 to R$9,59 in automatic and for R$10,10 in the manuals.
Drivers who travel the highway (SP-075) will also feel the positive impact, with the reduction of the toll R$9,00 to R$6,74 in the automatic cabins and R$7,10 to R$7,10 in the manuals.
No Nova Raposo lot, which includes sections of Castello Branco, the reduction is even more significant.
The toll in Osasco, which was R$5,90, will pass to R$3,80 in the automatic cabins, and to R$4,00 in manuals, which represents a drop of up to 35,5%.
The change that promises to please drivers is the implementation of the model free flow, which allows drivers to pay more fairly, according to the travelled distance instead of a flat rate.
This model aims to promote greater agility at toll plazas, especially on the busiest highways, where congestion and waiting times at toll booths are common.
Free flow system: what changes for drivers?
The new charging system adopted in highways from São Paulo promises to be more efficient for drivers and more financially advantageous.
With the model free flow, the driver pays for the stretch traveled and no longer by passing through each toll plaza.
The main benefit is for those who use automatic cabins, which will have a lower cost.
The charge will be made by portal, and the values will be lower than the current ones, promoting a reduced price throughout the trip.
This model is especially advantageous for drivers who travel long distances.
Current rates, which are fixed per toll plaza, often penalize those traveling long distances, but with the introduction of the free flow, the driver will only pay the amount corresponding to the section actually used.
How will the new tariffs be implemented?
The new tariffs, which have already been defined, will officially come into effect on the day March 30.
They will affect tolls on 92 kilometers of highways under concession. ecorodovias.
The changes will also be published in the Official State Gazette in the next 24th of March, to ensure that implementation takes place in a transparent and organized manner.
The government of São Paulo hopes that the reduction in toll rates bring benefits not only to drivers, but also to the flow of vehicles on highways, reducing congestion and increasing traffic flow, especially during peak hours.
Furthermore, with the change, highways can become more competitive, offering a viable and economical alternative for those traveling between regions.
The impact on drivers and highways
As toll costs decrease, the number of vehicles on the roads is expected to increase.
This could be a relief for drivers suffering from the high cost of travelling in São Paulo, where toll prices are traditionally higher than in other Brazilian states.
The changes should also help reduce operational costs of transport companies, which can be reflected in lower prices for the end consumer.
On the other hand, although the model free flow bring more efficiency and fairness in billing, the installation of new collection portals on highways could generate additional costs in the short term.
However, the expectation is that these initial investments will bring returns in the future, with less congestion and faster payment.
Economic impact of toll reduction
In economic terms, this change in tolls could have a significant impact on the local economy, especially in the transportation sector.
A reduction in travel costs can encourage an increase in the number of business and tourism trips, as well as benefit consumers with the reduction in freight price.
Although the changes will bring relief to drivers, it will be interesting to see how the new charging system is accepted by the population, especially in the first few months after implementation.
In the future, it will be important to evaluate how reducing tolls will impact traffic and road quality.
What do you think about this fare reduction? Do you think the implementation of the free flow model will improve traffic on São Paulo's highways? Leave your opinion in the comments!
