But a date remains a distant mirage, with the government arguing that renegotiating contracts with motorway operators have proved cumbersome.
During a fortnightly parliamentary session, Prime Minister António Costa responded to a question regarding tolls tabled by the Communist Party, by saying: “We have taken note of the recommendation approved by Parliament [to reduce tolls]”, explaining that Minister of Planning and Infrastructure Pedro Marques is currently locked in talks for the reduction “to take place still this summer.”
“We are focussed on this task, we hope to carry it out this summer”, the Prime Minister reiterated.
The government has indicated that inking a new deal with the operator of the A23 in central Portugal has been particularly problematic due to the nature of the contract signed by the previous
government.
The problems faced by the A23, seem to also be the reason behind the three other motorways covered by the deal, including the Algarve’s A22, still not being any nearer to learning when the discounts will come into force, or even what reductions motorists will enjoy.
At the end of April, the government explained that the proposed cut in tolls was justified in that it would increase mobility and economic exchanges in disadvantaged areas in rural Portugal, but added that mainland Portugal’s second wealthiest region, the Algarve, will also benefit as it would be unfair to discriminate.
Recent studies also indicate that by reducing tolls, more drivers would travel on these motorways and that the move could potentially come at very little cost to the taxpayer or actually prove profitable.
One of the biggest potential earners for the state in reducing tolls was found to be the Algarve’s A22 motorway.
A cut of a mere 15 percent in tolls on this route would see revenue climb by seven million euros, the study found.
Pedro Marques, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure recently told Parliament that “we don’t have first and second class citizens, and as a result, toll reductions in the interior will only go ahead once the same can be enforced on all toll roads in question.”
The Minister further argued that “when there is a drop in toll fees, it has to be for all. If the [previous government] had not conducted a disastrous renegotiation with road management companies, then this reduction would have already been in place.”
Despite earlier positions pointing to the contrary, Pedro Marques said that the A22 in the Algarve will also be covered by this policy as the EN125 road “is not an alternative, even with all the improvements currently being conducted.”
These comments by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure remain somewhat contradictory to those he made earlier this year when he stated that while the Government was looking at matters to ease mobility, the issue of removing tolls was not up for discussion.
Last September, and days before the general elections, then opposition leader António Costa told reporters that his party “had already stated that it is necessary to re-evaluate the contractual obligations the state has assumed”, adding that one of his party’s priorities was to go one step further and “eliminate” tolls and “create better access routes” in the Algarve and in the countryside.
The current prime minister afterwards added that although he was not supportive of anti-toll protests, some situations were in urgent need of an overhaul, such as the A22 Via do Infante, which runs the length of the Algarve, stating that the EN125 road had become a “cemetery.”
Algarve MPs from the ruling-Socialists have repeatedly indicated that this drop should be in the region of 50 percent on current toll fees along the region’s A22 motorway.
With central government dragging its heels on the matter, and roads in the Algarve increasingly congested due to road works and the usual influx of tourists, Socialist MPs are reported to be ready to join protests in the coming days in the region against tolls.
The Commission of Via do Infante Road Users (CUVI) this week announced on its Facebook page that it would stage protests on four critical points on the EN125, which will be held in Lagoa, Pêra, Fonte de Bolqueime and Patã in the coming week.
The main objective is to protest against the lack of safety and the recent fatalities on the road, the Commission said.
The first such protest will be staged in Lagoa on Sunday at 5.30pm at the city’s main roundabout where work has come to a screeching halt, with large queues already forming there even before the arrival of the peak summer season.
On Monday, the protest will move to Pera-Algoz at 11am to remember those who have died at this accident black spot on the EN125.
At 5.30pm, the CUVI will lead a demonstration at Fonte de Boliqueime before travelling to Patã.
Additional “surprise protests” are scheduled for the summer, CUVI said.