AS OF 20 MAY WHEN ENTERING A2 MOTORWAY POZNAŃ – ŚWIECKO THE DRIVER TAKES A TICKET AND PAYS AT THE EXIT.THE SYSTEM TESTS BEGIN ALREADY ON 23 APRIL.

Until 20 May 2012 the new concession section of A2 from Nowy Tomyśl to the German border is toll free. The exact tolls for that section of A2 will be publicized in early May.

• Between 23 April and 20 May we will be testing the new toll collection system on A2 from Świecko to Poznań.
• Such new system will also cover, as of 23 April, the section between Nowy Tomyśl and Poznań:  this section will still be tolled, however the procedure will be different:  ticket will be collected when entering the motorway and payment will be made at exit.
• A tolling system more favorable for drivers will be introduced in the section Poznań – Nowy Tomyśl. Instead of paying a single toll for the section Poznań – Nowy Tomyśl, we will pay PLN 5.00 for the section Poznań – Buk and PLN 9.00 for the section Buk – Nowy Tomyśl.

Other Information:
• We begin to test the new tolling system one month before it comes into operation, for the drivers to have a chance to learn in detail how it operates.  It is a so-called closed system that is implemented on A2 Motorway as it’s more transparent and more convenient for the drivers. Its application has been agreed with the government as part of the process of harmonizing the toll collection system on all motorways in Poland.
• Tolls will be collected at Toll Plazas and Stations. They are situated at interchanges, as well as in the mainline. It will be possible to pay tolls at Gołuski, Nowy Tomyśl, Trzciel, Jordanowo (which is anticipated to commence operation right after the GDDKiA builds S3 expressway in the second hals of 2013), Torzym and Tarnawa. At all these locations it will also be possible to collect the ticket at entry.
• Such ticket should be kept and later presented to the toll collector when exiting the motorway (lost ticket is tantamount to the full toll for the section Poznań – Nowy Tomyś applicable to a given vehicle category).
• As of 20 May tolls will start to be collected in the section from Nowy Tomyśl to Świecko; the exact toll rates in that section being determined by the Minister of Transport and scheduled to be publicized in early May. Drivers using A2 Motorway between Świecko and Nowy Tomyśl will pay for the actual distance covered.

Toll increase on A2 in the section Nowy Tomyśl  – Konin (3 x 50 km) as of 23 April

1. This toll increase  is below the inflation rate and amounts to PLN 0.02 inclusive of VAT per 1 km of the motorway (for cars).
2. The price of PLN 0.26 per 1 km that remained in force until 23 April 2012 was lower than the minimum price provided for in the agreement with the government.
3. According to the Concession Agreement executed with the government, the Concessionaire is fully entitled to follow its independent pricing policy based on the provisions of the agreement with the government.   Until the loans are repaid all it takes is the Lender’s consent which was already given to AWSA in 2009.
4. The price of PLN 0.28 per 1 km of the motorway is comparable to the rates on other European concession motorways:
Toll rates in selected countries*
• France – PLN 0.30 per 1 km on the average
• Italy – PLN 0.28 per 1 km on the average
• Portugal – PLN 0.28 per 1 km on the average
*data source: ASECAP – European Association with tolled motorways, bridges and tunnels – dated 1.1.2012

The reasons for the toll increase:

• ongoing repayment of loans incurred for the construction of the motorway (the loan from the European Investment Bank and from the commercial banks)
• inflation rate
tolls began to be collected on 6 January 2003 with the initial rate of PLN 10.00 inclusive of 7% VAT, i.e. PLN 9.35 net of VAT; since 1 January 2003 until 29 February 2012 the inflation of 32% was experienced (according to the Polish Office of Statistics – GUS); in real terms the net rate of January 2003 adjusted to February 2011 gives 9.35 x 1.32 = PLN 12.34 net + 23% VAT, that is PLN 15.17 inclusive of VAT. In order to preserve in real terms the toll amount of January 2003, the toll rate for Category 1 vehicles (passenger cards) should amount to PLN 15.17 inclusive of VAT.
• foreigh exchange differences
AWSA has been servicing its debts incurred to build the Project in EUR; on 6 January 2003, that is on the day toll collection began, the exchange rate (according to the National Bank of Poland) was PLN 3.9987/1 EUR.
• the financial plan agreed with the government provides for the toll raise also in 2012.
• new investments on A2 Nowy Tomyśl – Konin
AWSA is bound to accumulate certain funds to finance new investments on the motorway; only in 2011 and 2012 the amount of more than PLN 150 million was envisaged for that purpose (including the interchanges at Głuchowo, Kleszczewo, Buk and Słupca); all such investments are financed with toll revenues.