Oscar Puente, the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, has emphasized that the project to tax the use of toll roads is not dead yet, despite its removal from the government’s list of commitments with the European Commission last September. The proposal was to implement a toll system starting in 2024, and while it was taken off the list by Minister Raquel Sánchez, Puente believes it is not final.
Puente has expressed concerns about the current system where foreign trucks pay tolls in other European Union countries but not in Spain. He believes that a toll system would affect all citizens and would be a more equitable way to finance roads. The government’s current policy is to eliminate tolls from highways as contracts with operating companies expire, aiming for a uniform toll system.
Furthermore, discussions are underway regarding the Sustainable Mobility Bill, which must be passed before the end of the year to access European funds. Puente has called for consensus from all parties, especially reaching out to the People’s Party for their support. He believes that a broad consensus is necessary for the bill to move forward and hopes for collaboration from major political parties in Spain.
Overall, Puente believes that financing roads is essential for Spain’s future growth and development, whether through taxes or tolls. He invites political parties to consider this responsibility and work together towards a more sustainable transportation system for all citizens.
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