Highway: higher tolls on February 1 - January 12, 2010
This time, the motorway companies have decided to act together. For the sake of transparency displayed all communicate January 27 increased their rates of pay. Vinci (Cofiroute, ASF, Arcour), Eiffage (APRR) and Abertis (Sanef) have agreed not to make their ads in a disorganized, they did since 2003 and, in the opinion of some, allowed them to help get the pill.
While the traffic light vehicles is increased again in 2009 (+3%), while trucks fell (- 13%), the rate increase should be moderate but not anecdotal. "Some investment fund," says the Association of French motorway companies (ASFA). The contracts with the State Plan, which set for several years the amount of these investments and allow motorway companies to raise their rates, will all be finalized by the end of the month.Currently, only the FSA has already signed.
Recovery Plan
"It's a fool's game. We were a fait accompli, indignant association 40 million motorists, which denounces overcharging and stresses that the Users Committee, created last September to better assess the pricing policy of highways, not still able to hold its first meeting, representatives of parliament were not designated time. "The meeting will finally take place this Thursday, January 14, but everything has already been decided," says the association. She said it should not be any higher because 70 to 85% of it corresponds to inflation. Gold prices fell in October 2008 to October 2009, a period used to calculate the index.
Another topic discussed during the implementation of the Recovery Plan and is believed buried, failing agreement between the highway and the state: the execution of works green (recovery of rainwater, noise barriers, protection biodiversity) against a one-year extension of the concession contracts. After to be opposed, two groups of three are starters now: Vinci and Sanef. Only Eiffage has not signed the "Green Future". The device, listed as supplementary budget should include an investment of one billion euros, against 1.5 billion expected by the government.
However, for the State fee is always blocking. In late 2008, the government had planned to increase by 200 million euros the amount of tax paid by the concessionaires in return for occupying public.
The highway there were fiercely opposed, threatening to increase tolls. The fee has not changed in 2009 (around 170 million euros). But the thorny issue would soon resurface.