Se May is approaching and with the arrival of the new month, the fifth of this 2024, also new increases that will impact the pockets and daily lives of Argentines.
Among these, stand out those related to mobility, with increases already confirmed in tolls, trains and subwaysand with planned increases for fuel and bus fares in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA)still in the process of negotiation between the National Government and the business chambers.
How much does the tow truck service cost that drivers will have to start paying after a Government measure
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Tolls
Last week A 200% increase in tolls began to take effect of the national road corridors, which include access to the City of Buenos Aires (CABA).
The tariff update raised the cost of the toll for cars from $300 to $900 during rush hour for access to CABA (Riccheri–Ezeiza–Cañuelas Highway) and in any time slot for the rest of the sections located in La Pampa, Santa Fe, Cordoba, San Luis, Mendoza, Corrientes, Chaco, Misiones, Santiago del Estero, Tucuman, Salta and Jujuy.
From National Roads they justified the update explaining that it is due to the “considerable increase registered in the variation in prices of certain main components of the areas of operation, conservation and maintenance and support services, which affect the level of provision of services to the user. ” and they recalled that “the last update had been made in November 2023.”
The new rates in the Ricchieri highwaywhich will have their impact in May, will be:
Motorcycles: $350 Vehicles with up to 2 axles and up to 2.10 meters high: $700 (and $900 during peak hours) Vehicles with up to 2 axles and more than 2.10 meters high or double wheel: $1400 (and $1800 during peak hours) Vehicles with 3 or 4 axles and up to 2.10 meters high: $1400 (and $1800 during peak hours) Vehicles with 3 or 4 axles and more than 2.10 meters high or double wheel: $2100 (and $2700 during peak hours) Vehicles with 5 or 6 axles: $2800 (and $3600 during peak hours) Vehicles with more than 6 axles: $3500 (and $4500 during peak hours)
While the values of tolls on national routes will be:
Vehicles with up to 2 axles and up to 2.10 meters high: $900 (previously $300) Vehicles with up to 2 axles and more than 2.10 meters high or double wheel: $1800 (previously $600) Vehicles with 3 or 4 axles and up to 2.10 meters high: $1800 (previously $600) Vehicles with 3 or 4 axles and more than 2.10 meters high or double wheel: $2700 (previously $900) Vehicles with 5 or 6 axles: $3600 (previously $1200) Vehicles with more than 6 axles: $4500 (previously $1500)
Will auto insurance no longer cover towing with a tow truck or mechanical assistance?
Trains
Besides, the train ticket for AMBA services will increase by 54%. While regional services will suffer a strong increase, which in some cases will reach 2024%.
After the citizen participation event, there are still necessary administrative issues that will delay the application of the new values for a few days. For this, It is estimated that the new train fare scheme will come into force on Monday, May 6.
Regarding metropolitan services, which include the lines Sarmiento, Roca, Miter, San Martín, Belgrano Sur, Belgrano Norte, Urquiza and Tren de la Costa, The tariff scheme will be:
With registered SUBE card: Section 1: $200 Section 2: $260 Section 3: $320 UPLOAD without registering: Section 1: $400 Section 2: $520 Section 3: $640 With Tarifa Social: Section 1: $90 Section 2: $117 Section 3: $144 Cash: $640
While the new scheme of long distance services It will be outlined as follows:
Constitution – Mar del Plata: Minimum of $12,716 and Maximum of $38,147 Constitution – Pinamar: Minimum of $9,660 and Maximum of $28,981 Retreat – Junín: Minimum of $8,211 and Maximum of $24,632 Retreat – Justo Daract, San Luis: Minimum of $15,653 and Maximum of $46,959 Retreat – Tucumán: Minimum of $21,042 and Maximum of $63,127 Retreat – Córdoba: Minimum of $14,487 and Maximum of $43,460 Retreat – Rosario: Minimum of $9,334 and Maximum of $28,003 Eleven – Pehuajó: Minimum of $11,864 and Maximum of $35,592
Simple Fee: the Government analyzes extending the purchase financing program
Subways
The government of the City of Buenos Aires defined a staggered increase of the subway in three sectionswhich, although not yet official, It began to be discussed this Thursday in a public hearing and it is expected to come into effect in the coming days.
According to the latest resolution of the company Subterráneos de Buenos Aires (SBASE), Starting at the beginning of May, the general rate will jump from the current $125 to $574a rise of 359%.
However, the increases will not stop there, since, Just 15 days later, the value of the ticket will jump to $667 to, in June, rise even further, reaching the $757. In this way, if we compare the current prices with those that will apply for the service in the sixth month of the year, The accumulated increase in just two months will reach 505%.
With the increase proposed by Jorge Macri’s management, starting in May The general rates will be:
From 1 to 20 monthly trips: $574,00 From 21 to 30 trips: $459,20 From 31 to 40 trips: $401,80 From 41 onwards trips: $344,40
However, in the case of users who do not have a nominalized or registered SUBE Card there will be a “differential rate”, with significant differences in values, approaching a thousand pesos. They will be:
From 1 to 20 trips: $859,07 From 21 to 30 trips: $687,25 From 31 to 40 trips: $601,35 From 41 onwards trips: $515,44
Banco Nación launched a program to travel paying in 12 interest-free installments
How much could gasoline rise?
Among the unknowns are the fuels. It is that the fifth month of the year could start with increases of 8% following a new update of the fuel tax.
This is clear from the latest report of the Argentine Institute of Fiscal Analysis (IARAF), which is based on the tax adjustment planned by Javier Milei’s government in four phases through presidential decree 107/24, published in the Official Gazette at the end of January 2024.
“On May 1st, the fourth stage begins, with an increase in the fixed amount tax of $70 that raises the tax from $132 per liter to $202, that is, an advance of 53%. This update corresponds to the inflation of the fourth quarter of 2023,” detailed the report signed by the economist. Nadine Argañaraz.
With the next scheduled adjustment, the incorporation of 2023 inflation would be completed to the fuel tax. According to what was established by the ruling party, at the beginning of July, The tax would begin to be updated according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) corresponding to the first quarter of 2024.
If we consider the current price of a liter of super gasoline, The May update would imply an increase from $837 to $907 in CABA (8.3% increase) and from $966 to $1,036 in the city of Córdoba (7,2%).
Due to the economic crisis, 3 out of 10 consumers cannot maintain their purchasing habits
What will happen to the group?
Another doubt goes through the bus passages. Last week, there was a new meeting between the business chambers of passenger transport and authorities of the Ministry of Transportation due to the delay in bus ticket prices in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) compared to other regions of the country.
Currently, The minimum ticket cost is $270 for passengers with registered SUBE card and $430 for the rest.
The Resolution 15/2024published in February, allowed bimonthly ticket adjustments up to the level of accumulated inflation in the previous two months. It was expected that in April the ticket in the AMBA would increase by 36.5% (due to inflation accumulated in January and February).
Therefore, In May, according to the same resolution, the bus ticket could rise by 26% (inflation accumulated in February and March), although there is still no confirmation from the National Government.
RS / LR