NLEx Corp. said it will implement a P9 increase in toll under the open system from Balintawak to Marilao interchanges, slightly lower than the approved P10 adjustment.
It said the new adjustment covering the open system would take effect March 20.
The open system, where a flat rate is charged per entry, includes Balintawak, Mindanao Ave., Karuhatan, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Meycauayan and Marilao interchanges and toll plazas. These cover the urban section of the expressway where traffic congestion is more pronounced.
This means an increase of P9 flat fee, instead of the authorized P10 for Class 1 vehicles (ordinary cars) traversing the Balintawak, Karuhatan, Paso de Blas, Mindanao Avenue, Meycauayan and Marilao sections of the expressway effective March 20.
Class 2 vehicles (buses and small trucks) on the same corridor will only pay an additional P22 (instead of P23) and Class 3 vehicles (large trucks/trailers) will only pay an additional P28 (instead of P29).
NLEx said the reduced toll increases were reflected in the recently issued toll fare guide for those motorists traveling the entire NLEx.
For customers’ convenience, the fare guide will also include the combined toll fee computation for both NLEx and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.
SCTEX is not included in the toll increase.
The rate increases were approved following the opening of the 2×3 lanes, all elevated 5.65-km Harbor Link Segment 10 traversing the cities of Valenzuela, Malabon and Caloocan.
Two weeks after its opening on Feb. 28, 2019, more than 100,000 motorists benefited from the newly opened expressway.
NLEx Harbor Link Segment 9 and the recently opened Segment 10 are now parts of the open system. The completion of these projects added new routes, exit and entry points to the system, helping decongest several traffic chokepoints such as A. Bonifacio, Edsa, C3 Caloocan, Karuhatan, MacArthur Highway and Quezon City.
NLEx Harbor Link Segment 10 provided alternative access to more than 30,000 motorists daily. Travel time between C3, Caloocan and NLEx Karuhatan in Valenzuela was reduced from one hour to 5 minutes. It also provided a new route from Mindanao Ave. to Caloocan City.
NLEx Corp. said it had not yet enjoyed the periodic toll increases covered by its concession agreement with the government over the past seven years or since 2012.