Starting on December 1, 2022, SMC Infrastructure will implement its “Seamless Southern Tollways” program which will eliminate the need for northbound and southbound motorists to do multiple toll stops within its southern expressways—South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), SLEX-Greenfield, and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway.
SMC admits that, for years, this has been the expected travel pattern of Southern Luzon-bound motorists: stop for toll and encounter traffic buildups at the South Luzon Expressway’s (SLEX) Calamba toll plaza, the SLEX-Greenfield toll plaza, and then again at the Sto. Tomas exit, Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR).
Now, under the new scheme, this will be cut down to just two: at the entry and exit points. In the new set-up, all toll plazas in the middle will be pass-through, with payment stops made only at the Skyway main plaza, and the exit point.
Implementation of the new Seamless Southern Tollways program for southbound traffic is set for December 1, while northbound traffic will benefit from the same set-up by December 15. Integration of the NAIA Expressway is set for the first quarter of 2023.
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president Ramon S. Ang said that the program, which its infrastructure arm has been working on since early this year, will essentially make travel along STAR, SLEX, and the entire Skyway system (Stages 1,2,3) much faster.
According to Ang, a major development that has allowed SMC Infrastructure to improve this process is motorists’ wider adoption of the Autosweep RFID electronic toll collection (ETC) system.
Since the pandemic, ETC penetration has grown from 45 percent to 80 percent, allowing for safer, more efficient toll collection, and the implementation of technology-based solutions to previous traffic constraints.
Ang also clarified that there will be no change in toll rates whatsoever. However, fees that used to be collected at the eliminated toll stops will be added to the total fees to be collected at the exit point which may be confusing to some motorists at first.
He added that the Seamless Southern Tollways program is also part of SMC Infrastructure’s preparation for full interoperability with other expressways, which it has been pushing for, and working on with government and other tollway operators.
How about the moon like cracks of your star tollway?and also slex?been months and nothing is being done. hello ramon ang why dont you do your proper maintenance?sayang binabayad sa toll wala nmn maayos na serbisyo!
ReplyDeleteStartollway also has no lights on both sides. Its pitch dark at night driving the whole stretch. I would say safety to motorists first, before convenience.
ReplyDeleteRepair the cracks and put em d*** good lighting there..
What to improve is your RFID sensors at toll booths, specially at skyway stage 3 in balintawak both for north and southbound, during rushhour, tailend of traffic reaches almost at quezon ave northbound ramp.
ReplyDeletemadalas ko nakikita may pila sa skyway from Del Monte/Sgt. Rivera intersection :P
Deletesir Ramon ang... kindly check to your engineering sraff to inspect the star toll highway Lipa to Batangas...vice versa .. napakasama pong daanan dahil sa marami ang sira.. ayusin po sana katulad ng sto tomas to lipa na makinis hindi tagultulan ang daan... ituloy nadin po sana yung daan from sabang to balagtas/batangas toll plasa. matagal na panahon na nakikihati sa south bound... gamitin natin yun area ng north bound na may kanyang tulay para maganda ang takbo ng trapic at hindi palikoliko. thank you po
ReplyDelete