By Emmie V. Abadilla
Motorists can now enjoy seamless travel south of Metro Manila as STAR (Southern Tagalog Arterial Road) Tollway becomes Radio-frequency identification (RFID)-ready.
Star Tollway Corporation, the operator of the Star Tollway, yesterday announced that Autosweep RFID payment lanes, alongside regular cash lanes, are now operational at the toll plazas in the 42-kilometer toll road stretching from Santo Tomas, Batangas to Batangas City.
The addition of Star Tollway completes the list of San Miguel Infrastructure tollways with Autosweep RFID access, joining South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), Skyway and the NAIA Expressway (NAIAx).
To date, there are 58,000 vehicles traversing the Star Tollway, of which 28 percent are currently using Autosweep RFID as payment mode.
The integration of Star Tollway into the Autosweep RFID system as well as the motorists’ increasing use of Autosweep RFID as a mode for payment are expected to reduce waiting and transaction times at the toll plazas, thus leading to faster travel during regular days as well as holidays when vehicle volumes are expected to increase.
“We encourage motorists to utilize the Autosweep RFID access as mode to pay their toll fees. This is one of the plans that we are implementing in order to lessen hassle and ensure faster travel," Star Tollway said in its statement.
"We are more optimistic that with the inclusion of the Star Tollway into San Miguel Infrastructure’s Autosweep RFID system, we will be able to handle vehicle volumes at a faster rate.”
Autosweep RFID enrollment and reloading stations are at Skyway Bicutan, SLEX Silangan, Filinvest Toll Plaza Southbound, Southwoods Toll Plaza Northbound, Carmona Toll Plaza Northbound, Sta. Rosa Toll Plaza Southbound, Ayala Greenfield Toll Plaza Southbound, Southwoods Toll Plaza Southbound, and Sta. Rosa Toll Plaza Northbound.
Also in the list as enrollment/reloading stations are Petron KM 44 Northbound, Petron Malvar KM 75 Southbound, Petron Lipa KM 79 Northbound, Petron Ibaan KM 86 Northbound, Petron San Pedro Southbound, Petron Dasmariñas Northbound, Shell Putatan Southbound, Shell Mamplasan Northbound, and Shell Magallanes Southbound.