Imbert considers toll roads

He was addressing the post-Cabinet media conference yesterday at Whitehall.

The Government was considering having an input from the private sector in running the freeways, which involves their operation and maintenance. This could involve levying a toll on motorists using the freeway.

He later told Newsday, “San Fernando to Princes Town will be the first toll road in the country.” He said the crucial issue was to determine the level of the toll. He declined to speculate how much motorists might pay.

A toll road already operates in Jamaica, he noted, saying it was working well.

He said, “It’s simply a proposal.”

Would motorists want to pay a toll? He said motorists would have the option to use the toll freeway but could otherwise remain travelling on the existing road. The beauty of toll roads, he said, is that private companies could come to Trinidad from abroad bringing their own requisite foreign exchange.

“It’s a very quick way to get roads built.”

The idea of toll roads had been touted in 2004 by former minister of works and transport, Franklin Khan.