MOTORISTS using the Mandela to Sandy Bay and Mandela to Spanish Town leg of Highway 2000 could be asked to fork out up to $30 more for toll fees if the government approves increases requested by Trans-Jamaican Highway Limited, operators of the highway.

However, no increase has been requested for the Kingston/Portmore leg of the highway, apparently to avoid a possible boycott and a backlash against the government, which has already come in for severe battering when the administration converted the old causeway into a toll road.

Trevor Jackson, managing director of Trans-Jamaican Highway Limited, told the Observer that there was an application made for an increase in the toll for the Portmore leg of the highway, however, through a mutual agreement between his company and the stakeholders it was decided that the toll would remain as is for now.

“.It is time for everybody to reflect and decide whether it makes sense to do it (increase Portmore toll) or not, given the fact that there has been a lot of emotion attached to the Portmore toll,” said Jackson.

“We have not yet had an opportunity to have the debate with the prime minister, and some of the traffic issues have not yet been solved. so it was agreed with the shareholders not to pursue this increase now,” Jackson added.

On Monday this week the Court of Appeal granted a group of Portmore residents final leave to take their concerns regarding the toll road issue to the United Kingdom Privy Council.

According to a notice appearing in yesterday’s Observer, signed by Transport Minister Robert Pickersgill, the proposed increase for the Vineyards toll plaza is $190 for class one vehicles, up from $180 and the fee for class two vehicles is expected to increase to $250, up from $230. Motorists driving class three vehicles will have to pay $480, compared to $450 previously at that toll plaza.

The proposed toll for the Spanish Town toll plaza is $60 for class one vehicles, $80 for class two and $150 for class three. The proposed increase for both class one and two vehicles is $10, while the proposed increase for class three vehicles is $20.

The toll for both toll plazas were increased last May.

Efforts to reach Minister Pickersgill last night to find out when the proposed increase will become effective were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, the public is also invited to make submissions to the Toll Authority in writing, within seven days of yesterday’s notice.