Santa Ana Tolls Will Go Ahead As
Planned Transport Minister Assured
Residents of Santa Ana took the
streets Monday morning, to protest
the charging to tolls on the
autopista Próspero Fernández - the
new road to Caldera. The residents
argue that the charge of the tolls,
in both directions, hurts them
economically and want the ministra
de Transportes to respond to their
demands.
With placards and shouting, the
residents blocked traffic over the
Santa Ana bridge for the better part
of the morning, notwithstanding that
the ministra de Obras Públicas y
Transportes, Karla González, had
agreed to meet with the mayor of
Santa Ana in the afternoon.
The residents are also demanding
that the ministra cancel the
relocation of the Santa Ana bus
stop.
Currenlty buses stop on the highway
over the Santa Ana bridge, but soon
will be forced to stop at the bus
bay 300 metres east, adjacent to the
pedestrian overpass just built.
Residents say that, firstly the bus
stop is completely out of everyone's
way and that secondly, there are no
sidewalks and that people have to
walk on the busy highway to get to
and from the new bus stop.
The current Santa Ana bus stop is a
major stop for the hundreds of
workers at the Forum business
centre, which is located adjacent to
the Santa Ana bridge.
Ministra González was clear that the
charging of the tolls will continue
as planned and that if residents are
unhappy they can file a complaint
with the Tribunales de Justicia
(Courts).
The ministra said that those who do
not want to pay the tolls, can
always use the side roads. To that
end, the ministra said that her
officials will be working closely
with municipal officials to improve
the arterial roads, like the Calle
Vieja a Santa Ana, that will
including building bus bays, a
common problem on the the two lane
road as buses continually increase
congestion as they stop to take on
and let off passengers.
Ministra González defended the toll
charges as being approved by the
Autoridad Reguladora de los
Servicios Públicos (regulatory
agency) after study and
consultations.
The ministra added that some of the
protesting groups are using the
situation to launch a political
campaign, especially beneficial to
those who want to get to the "Cuesta
de Moras" (legislative assembly).
As to the bus stop, the ministra
assured that her technical staff
will review the situation.
Residents, however, charged that the
ministra is out of touch with what
is happening in their area, signing
the orders but not knowing fully the
situation and the problem.
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