The Debate on Pay-Per-Use and the Future of Our High-Capacity Roads Returns to the Table

The debate on pay-per-use and the future of our high-capacity roads is back on the table. La Vanguardia dedicates an extensive analysis to the deterioration of highways and the need to address how to finance their maintenance and modernization, an issue that CCIES has been insisting on for some time.

As stated in the article by the President of CCIES, Chamber of Concessionaires of Infrastructure, Equipment and Public Services, Francesc Sibina Buron, “the problem is not just maintenance, but the lack of continuous investment.” He cites the AP-7 as an example, estimating that 7 billion euros of investment would be needed for its Iberian Peninsula section.

“This is an issue that transcends our borders. The AP-7 is part of the E15, one of the major European road corridors, connecting Northern Europe with the Mediterranean. Its conservation and modernization is therefore not only a matter of national mobility, but also of European competitiveness and connectivity.”

CCIES argues that the debate on our infrastructure cannot be limited to addressing congestion problems once they have already occurred, but requires long-term planning, sufficient investment, and a stable and sustainable financing and management model.

“Its conservation, modernization and adaptation to new mobility needs require long-term resources and decisions.”

Therefore, the debate should not be reduced solely to “tolls, yes or no.” The underlying question is how we want to finance, maintain, and manage infrastructure that is essential for mobility, competitiveness, and territorial cohesion.

CCIES believes it is necessary to move toward a State Pact that allows this debate to be addressed with long-term vision, stability, and consensus, beyond political cycles. An agreement that defines investment needs, financing models, and the management mechanisms necessary to guarantee the quality and sustainability of our infrastructure and public services throughout their entire life cycle.