San Miguel Corporation (SMC) announced that it formally rolled out the “Seamless Southern Tollways” program.
Motorists can now expect faster travel within SMC expressways
The program aims to provide motorists traversing SMC expressways faster and more seamless travel by eliminating multiple toll stops. Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime “Jimmy” Bautista welcomed the announcement, saying:
“This is a welcome development for so many of our countrymen who will be heading home to the provinces this December. Usually, our expressways experience the heaviest traffic, particularly in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Fortunately, it seems we will all have some relief starting this December, as our private partner toll operator, SMC Infrastructure, has successfully completed the work needed to make travel through SLEX, Skyway, and STAR, more seamless.”
From five toll stops, the “Seamless Southern Tollways” program cuts the number down to just two – entry and exit. The toll stops at the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Calamba toll plaza, the SLEX-Greenfield toll plaza, and the Sto. Tomas exit at the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) have been made inactive.
The program looks to minimize traffic
The toll fees remain intact. But with the closing of midway toll stops, motorists should expect to pay more at their last or exit stop. All fees that are supposed to be collected at the ceased toll gates will be added to the final toll stop instead.
For even more seamless travel, SMC is encouraging motorists to avail of its Autosweep RFID. Since the pandemic, ETC penetration has increased from 45 percent to 80 percent.
“At the end of the day, what we want to achieve is to minimize traffic and the time our countrymen spend on the road. That is why we constantly invest to improve our infrastructure and the systems that help run them – so we can make sure trips are efficient, seamless, and as safe as possible for the public,” said SMC President Ramon S. Ang.
The program for southbound traffic has been implemented since December 1, while northbound traffic will experience it by December 15. Moreover, the program will be enforced along the NAIA Expressway (NAIAX) in the first quarter of 2023.
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