NOVEMBER 2011
High prices of toll plaza cause controversy in Las Terrenas
Residents complain and say they won’t travel on the new road
Social and business groups of Las Terrenas have raised their complaints against the prices announced to use the new road linking El Catey to this municipality.
Prices are: 450 pesos for light vehicles, 920 pesos for midsize buses, 1,200 pesos for large buses and twin axel trucks and 1,700 for trucks with more than two axels for only one way.
This means that the cost of round trip on the new highway (24 km) is respectively 900 pesos, 1840 pesos, 2400 pesos and 3400 pesos.
Residents reject these prices:
According to newspaper Almomento, Ramon Brito, who heads the Association of Owners and Workers of Samaná Public Transport (Asotrapusa) considered the prices were abusive
and announced they will fight to obtain fair rates.
Fabeth Martinez, executive director of the Association of Hotels and Tourism Companies of Samaná (Ahetsa), considered these prices were irrational
.
That would raise the cost our products. More than an attraction, it would generate a constraint for tourists that travel from Santo Domingo and other parts of the country. We agree with the payment of tolls at a reasonable price because we know that development entails investment, but not that way
, said Martinez.
The journalist Delvis Santos, secretary general of the Tourism Press Association Samaná, said these prices surprised the population of Las Terrenas.
With this prices, is this road still an attraction ?
The construction of this road aroused much enthusiasm among the local population, since it reduces the travel time to the municipality and offers a spectacular view of the area.
During the inauguration ceremony, Minister of Public Works, Victor Diaz Rúa, also ensured that the boulevard would reduce the costs of transporting passengers and goods between the towns of the region, representing significant savings in time and fuel.
But all these advantages are waived by the high price of the toll. Can we really consider we will save a significant amount of fuel that would compensate these rates ? The answer seems to be no.
Who will use this road ?
With these high costs and according to the opinion of many of our readers, people living in the Las Terrenas will continue to travel by the Sanchez road, which was repaired and also offers a beautiful view.
As for Dominicans from the capital, only the richer will take this new route.
The amount of foreign tourists travelling on this road will depend on what the taxis will decide, and they will surely increase their prices.
So can we say that this road will attract more visitors to Las Terrenas ? Apparently not.
Why such a high price ?
Although no official statement explaining the high price of the toll was issued, we can think about the following hypothesis:
The toll was originally built at the entrance of the peninsula so that travelers to Sánchez and Samaná would also pay. After the protests, it was agreed that vehicles could travel freely to these two municipalities.
So maybe these high prices are a way to compensate the amount of money the travelers to Samaná and Sanchez would have spent ?
We also should keep in mind that nothing is definitive and that maybe in some months, the trip to Sánchez and Samaná will have a cost.
On the other hand, we think that by imposing such high prices, some interest may seek to turn the Las Terrenas in an exclusive village, making it more accessible only to rich people.
The consequences of these high rates
According to emails we have received from our readers, 100% have stated that they will still take the Sanchez road, so we can say that only the richest people will use the new road.
Víctor Diaz Rúa said that the opening of the boulevard would make it easier to access to the area and that as a consequence more than 10 000 hotel rooms would be built, with a potential to accommodate 600 000 visitors a year.
But how many people will really travel on this road ? Doesn’t it seem that everything will continue as before ? Does this road will always be empty ?
What is your opinion ?
Many people feel that this road created high expectations at the beginning but that now, it’s as it wouldn’t exist. Do you agree ? Will you travel on this road ?
Give us your opinion !
Las Terrenas Live, 03.11.11, 5.25 p.m.
Comments
We come four or five times a year and I’ve crossed the mountain road at dark in a rain storm. I absolutely dread that road. $24.00 US round trip five times a year is a small price for me to pay and I will gladly. For commercial and everyday traffic it is unreasonable. Local and business traffic should be able to buy a pass at a reduced rated. Calculate the amount of trips you think you’ll make and buy a pass for that amount of trips at a reduced rate and then punch the pass each trip. When you use it up get a new pass and or the pass expires each month. This can be done in the same amount of time that it takes the toll booth attendant to make change.
Pete - United States - 11-04-11
I live in Las Terrenas about 6 months of the year. I have traveled the new section of road and it is impressive, however at $450Rds each way the cost is excessive. The cost of this toll is a hindrance to both tourism and commercial traffic. Who ever set the current prices does not have a very good grasp on what people are willing to pay for the convenience and they certainly will not save any significant money taking this route.
Steve - United States - 11-06-11
First, I would like to commend the Dominican Republic for having the forsight to build this very impressive engineering project. It truly is amazing and something for which every Dominican should be proud. That being said, I personally think that the tolls for passenger vehicals and small trucks are excessive. What good is a road, if you put the price to use it out of reach for many of the people who live in the area. It makes no sense to me. It is true that the cost was very high, but necessary to cut through so much rock. It is a known fact that it isn’t passenger vehicles that tear up a road bed. It is heavy commercial multi-axel vehicles. Lower the toll for passenger cars and small two axel trucks, but the tolls are in line for the commercial vehicles. Busses don’t care what they pay, it is just added onto the passenger’s ticked cost. The cost is spread out over many individuals riding a single bus. Since large trucks are responsible for most of the damage done to roads, I personally believe their tolls should be higher. Again the cost is spread over the entire load being carried on the vehicle, which is very small indeed. Someone needs to go back and reread their Econ 101 text books covering supply and demand and cost of goods. Their reasoning is just not valid. Final thought, this road will create development, which will create jobs, which will raise the standard of living for the people living in Las Terrenas and the surrounding area. Someone stated the road will only be used by the rich. Well, how do you create wealth ? First you build a road allowing investment and development access to the area. That will create jobs. The jobs will create more desposible income to the people of the area. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure this one out, « It’s a No Brainer. »
Edward Vernon - United States - 11-10-11
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