KINGSTON, Jamaica — The TransJamaican Highway Jamaica (TJH) has announced that there will be no increase in toll rates for users of the East-West leg of Highway 2000 this year.

“There will be no increase in our users’ toll budgets. After taking into account the exchange rate, the consumer price index (CPI) — both of which have been favourable to Jamaica — along with other input variables specific to our operations, we found that we were in a position to forgo a rate increase this year,” said managing director of TJH. Guillaume Allain,

This is second time that the Highway Concessionaire has announced that there will be no across the board movement in toll rates, as in 2010 the rates remained at 2009 figures.

“Highway maintenance and developments will continue as scheduled, as an important campaign of works will take place over the summer to guarantee the best possible driving conditions, in accordance with the Highway 2000 East-West policy of improvements of the road infrastructure,” the highway authorities said in a release today.

“This year, TJH observes its 17th year in operation, offering top quality transportation infrastructure, and striving to play its part in positively shaping the country’s future. TJH’s quality management system is certified to the ISO 9001:2015 standard, demonstrating a recognition that the company operates at the level of international best-practices”.

TJH said it is continuing to expand its services to customers and that users will soon have the convenience of a new service station near the Old Harbour eastbound on-ramp.

“We have also outfitted a police outpost at the Portmore Toll Plaza of the Highway 2000 East-West. This will allow the best possible co-operation between Highway 2000 East-West and the Highway Police to ensure that all toll roads are safe for the motoring public,” Allain said.

He explained that the police will then be able to monitor the roadway more closely and respond to incidents in an even shorter time. The project to upgrade and expand an existing structure was financed and executed by the Highway 2000 East-West.

TJH T-Tag customers also now have more convenience to access their accounts with a new mobile application called T-Tag to Go. Users are able to view account balances; add funds to accounts; set personalised low-balance reminders; and view historical transactions. The T-Tag to Go app can be downloaded free at the Google Play Store and the App Store, the release stated.