Abstract

The financing of transport infrastructure is one of the elements that have generated and continue to generate debate.

In the case of high-capacity roads, this debate has been complicated by the presence of different types: free roads, toll roads and shadow tolls, which have coexisted without developing a homogeneous model on a territorial scale.

The end of the concessions of certain toll roads, including AP7 and AP2, which are basic and structuring roads of the country's road system, was an opportunity to define a future proposal for high-capacity roads . In the end, users have opted for free, which implies that management tasks, maintenance, repairs and new investments will be taken over by the administration.

Taking this context into account, the presentation aims to make a global reflection on the financing of these high-capacity roads and the consequences of the various financing models. Therefore, a discussion is proposed that incorporates the following elements:

An analysis of the forms of payment for high-capacity roads on a European scale, whether it is done through payment for use or payment via taxes, and how the Spanish case fits within this context.

Based on several studies and analysis carried out, it will be determined what the cost could be for the administration to manage these roads in the Spanish case, and the repercussions that could have to implement a payment model for users, either based on a toll kilometer, or a toll per time, systems in force in different European countries.

Based on the data from the family budget survey and other surveys on the subject, the impact on equity of these financing models is considered.

Finally, the relationship between the financing of these high-capacity roads and the resources for public transport. Therefore, a global reflection that will be carried out on the basis of existing studies, and that will generate a discussion on how to approach the financing of these routes.