Scheduled for Sunday (1st), the start of free flow on the Anchieta and Imigrantes highways (SP) is postponed

The São Paulo state government has postponed the launch of electronic toll operations on the Anchieta and Imigrantes highways, which had been scheduled for this Sunday (1st).

The postponement stems from the Tarcísio de Freitas administration's decision to relocate the toll gantry on the Imigrantes highway following pressure from residents of the Pós-Balsa area in São Bernardo do Campo, in the ABC region of greater São Paulo.

The free-flow toll gantry is installed at kilometer 29 of the road connecting the state capital to the Baixada Santista coastal region.

The Imigrantes highway is the community's only land connection to the rest of the municipality — residents also travel via a ferry service operated by EMAE (Empresa Metropolitana de Águas e Energia).

The Pós-Balsa area includes rural neighborhoods, communities, and four indigenous villages.

According to Artesp (São Paulo State Transportation Agency) and SPI (Secretariat of Investment Partnerships), the new gantry on the São Paulo-bound lane will be repositioned to kilometer 38. The other gantry (toward the coast) will remain at kilometer 29.

Both gantries on the Anchieta highway will remain at kilometer 33. Until electronic toll collection begins, the equipment will be used for highway monitoring.

"The analyses identified an opportunity to reposition the gantry to preserve local travel and improve tariff fairness, one of the objectives of Siga Fácil," states the release, referring to the name given to the electronic toll system in the state of São Paulo.

Until the new system comes into operation, the traditional barrier toll plazas on the Anchieta highway (Riacho Grande, at km 31) and the Imigrantes highway (Piratininga, km 32) will continue operating normally.

When the new system begins operating, the current toll rate will be charged in both directions on both roads, for drivers going both up and down the serra.

Following a rate adjustment on the 1st of this month, the toll on the Anchieta-Imigrantes system rose to R$40.60. It will therefore cost R$20.30 per direction — this was the amount that Pós-Balsa residents would have had to pay.

Motorcycles remain exempt from payment.

The free-flow gantries were installed last February, with the expectation that toll collection would begin on July 1st, but the launch was postponed to allow concessionaire Ecovias Imigrantes, which manages the highway, to assess the profile of vehicles using both roads.

According to the company, 93% of commercial vehicles that passed through both gantries during the trial period had active tags. For passenger vehicles, the figure was 71%.

Testing for technology and operational process validation began in late May.

Under the free-flow electronic toll system, charges are collected while vehicles are in motion.

In this model, instead of barrier tolls, overhead gantries fitted with cameras capable of identifying the license plates of moving vehicles — or detecting signals from tags (the same type used at conventional tolls and access-controlled parking facilities) — are used.

For vehicles with valid tags, the contracted operator processes the charge automatically.

Those without a tag affixed to their windshield have up to 30 days to make payment.

Highway operators must create digital channels, such as websites and apps, as well as physical locations, so that users can complete toll payments.

In São Paulo, the Siga Fácil website consolidates all payments.