The testing phase of the free flow toll on the Anchieta and Imigrantes highways, the main access points to the Baixada Santista beaches, began on Thursday (11) after the completion of the installation of the gantries with the equipment, according to the concessionaire Ecovias. The charge, which is currently only made towards the coast, will now be charged in both directions, but the current value, R$38.70, will be divided: R$19.35 on the way there and R$19.35 on the way back.
The forecast is that fare collection through the Siga Fácil electronic system will begin in July. The gantries were installed at km 33 of Anchieta and at km 29 of Imigrantes, in both directions. The structures will replace the current toll plazas with booths, which will be deactivated in the future, the concessionaire informed.
“This stage (of testing) aims to validate the functioning of the technology in real traffic conditions. The system undergoes tests to check the reading of tags and plates and prepare the transition to the new charging model”, explains Ronald Marangon, superintendent of Ecovias Imigrantes. The work is monitored by the Transport Regulatory Agency of the State of São Paulo (Artesp), responsible for approving the system.
Opportunity with security!
Until the tests are completed, toll payments will continue to be made only at toll plazas. Motorcyclists will continue to be exempt after the change to the new system. The expectation is that the model will eliminate the long queues that form at current toll plazas, especially on long holidays.
Too many squares
The change only affects tolls installed on the main axis of the two highways. The containment tolls installed at the entrances to cities in Greater São Paulo will continue with the plazas already installed.
According to the Ecovias concessionaire, the free flow gantries will be installed at the entrance to the “garrafão” of the current squares. It is planned to demolish the current cabins after the new system begins operation. “With this implementation, users of the SAI (Sistema Anchieta-Imigrantes) will be able to gradually get used to this new charging system, which in the future could replace other stations, depending on new negotiations with the government”, states the concessionaire.
Operation Train
The change in the toll model will affect Operation Convoy, a safety procedure adopted by the State Highway Police and the concessionaire when there is dense fog in the system, especially in the Serra do Mar section. Currently, toll plazas are used to retain traffic and form groups of vehicles that cross the fog sections guided by vehicles at low speed, reducing the risk of accidents.
According to Ecovias, when the electronic charging system comes into operation, the physical structures of the existing toll plazas will be temporarily maintained in order to enable the Convoy Operation to be carried out, as the contractual measure is necessary for road safety.
