Motorists travel along the Portmore Toll Road in St Catherine. - File

Cabinet has accepted a proposal for toll rate increases of between 16.6 per cent and 66.6 per cent, but will now seek public approval before implementation on July 1.

The last increase for motorists using both the Vineyards Toll Plaza in Clarendon and the Spanish Town Toll Plaza in St Catherine was in 2007. However, this will be the first increase for the Portmore leg of Highway 2000.

With the hike in petrol prices reaching a record high of more than $86 a litre at some petrol stations, motorists are cringing at any further increases that may come their way.

If the rates accepted by Cabinet hold, drivers of class one vehicles (motor cars) traveling through the Vineyards Plaza will be required to pay $230 which is $40 more than they now pay.

Class two

Owners of class two vehicles (SUVs) will pay $310, a $60 jump from the previous $230; while class three motorists, including truck and bus drivers, will fork out an additional $100 to use the toll road.

Motorists traveling the Spanish Town and Portmore legs of the highway will see an increase of $10 and $40 respectively, taking the previous rate from $60 to $70 and $100 for class one vehicles.

Rates for class two vehicles will move from $80 for the Spanish Town route to $90, while motorists using the Portmore leg will pay $140, rather than the previous $100. Class three vehicles will attract a toll rate of $180 for the Spanish Town route and $280 at the Portmore Plaza.

Speaking during his contribution to the 2008-2009 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House last month, Minister of Transport Mike Henry said there has been a change in the toll policy under the concession agreement, which will now see an annual review of tariffs by the developer, instead of the twice-yearly review. Commuters, therefore, can expect a possible further increase in July 2009.