05 December
2024
However, the majority of respondents note the condition of prior improvement of the quality of the road infrastructure.
In Ukraine, 82% of transport companies support the introduction of toll roads for public use, according to the annual industry study Infrastructure Index 2024, which is conducted as part of the Infrastructure Day 2024 event by the European Business Association, writes TTS.
18% of respondents spoke against it.
However, the majority of respondents (76%) note the condition of prior improvement of the quality of the road infrastructure. Also, part of the respondents (31%) called it expedient to use toll roads only for vehicles with a gross weight of 12 tons or more.
22% of respondents believe that this will increase funding and quality of roads.
According to Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, the introduction of toll roads is one of the EU's requirements, and the determining factor here will be the analysis of traffic intensity, which is currently being conducted on six highways as a preparatory stage for making a political decision. Ukraine is also negotiating with investors and the European Investment Bank.
"Sooner or later there will be toll roads anyway," Derkach said.
For now, we are talking about preparation for the introduction of a new model: it will be necessary to decide on the model of toll roads (whether only freight transport pays, or all consumers), the size of the toll, and implement the appropriate billing system. This requires both a significant amount of preparatory work and the creation of an appropriate legislative framework.
Given the significant social resonance and complexity of this decision, the first deputy head of the Committee on Infrastructure and Transport of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Yuliya Klymenko notes that this reform is necessary, but 80% of success depends on proper communication and conveying information to people. "Politically, this is very unpopular and requires a large public company, explaining to people that free roads remain, and toll roads will be built in parallel. Without this, there will never be political will," she emphasizes.