Territorial Cohesion Minister Ana Abrunhosa said in Guarda on Sunday that the government plans to continue “cutting tolls” on inland highways next year.
“It is part of the government’s program to lower the toll. Our intention is to continue to lower the toll this year,” Ana Abrunhosa told journalists today.
The Minister of Territorial Cohesion spoke in Guarda, on the eve of yet another protest action by the Plataforma P’la Revenção das Scut A23 and A25, on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Mondego Walkways, which are integrated into the Serra da Estrela Natural Park and the UNESCO World Star Geopark.
“We are in a context where reducing tolls is not enough. We are in a context of an energy crisis. We cannot encourage the use of the car. We are well aware that in these areas [do interior] there is no alternative, ie there is no public transport. And that is why we will also work on mobility and accessibility projects at the same time,” he added.
Ana Abrunhosa explained that when a municipality in the interior puts out a public tender for public transport, it is not attractive and “it is important that this work is done at the level of the Intermunicipal Community, because it has more scale and it is much more attractive [o concurso] to private operators”.
He also recalled that there are two programs that aim to promote access to public transport and the provision of public transport: the PART program (Tariff Reduction Support Program) and the PROTRANS Program (Densification Support Program). strengthening the public transport offer).
According to the official, a programmatic standard is foreseen in the state budget so that in the first quarter of 2023 “work on a mobility program for cohesion”, which includes mobility in terms of public transport at the level of the intermunicipal companies, the promotion of the use of electric vehicles and “the reduction of tolls in the interior and on the A22″ [autoestrada 22]”.
Ana Abrunhosa also explained that it is necessary to cooperate with the municipalities in a program of collective transport and at the level of so-called “on-demand transport”.
On the protest planned for Monday by Plataforma P’la Revenção das Scut A23 and A25, the Minister of Territorial Cohesion did not comment, saying that “it is a right of people to keep fighting for what they are entitled to” .
The Platform will perform an action with horns on Monday in different locations in the districts of Castelo Branco and Guarda, namely in Fundão (Market Zone, at 09:00), Castelo Branco (Rotunda Europa, at 09:00), Covilhã (Olive Tree Roundabout , at 4:30 PM), Guarda (Camionagem Central Roundabout, at 5:30 PM), Seia (Pingo Doce Roundabout, at 8:45 AM) and Vilar Formoso (on the old border, at 11:30 AM).
The Platform for the Replacement of the A23 and A25 Scuts includes seven entities from the districts of Castelo Branco and Guarda, namely the Business Association of Beira Baixa, the Castelo Branco Union of Trade Unions, the Commission of Users Against Tolls on the A23, the Movement from inland livelihood entrepreneurs, the Guarda Region Business Association, the A25 Users Commission and the Guarda Union of Unions.
In addition, there are several other entities that are represented in the General Council, a consultative body.
The A23, also referred to as Beira Interior Highway, connects Guarda with Torres Novas (A1).
The A25 (Beiras Litoral and Alta Highway) connects Aveiro and the border with Vilar Formoso.
Source: DN
