HISTORY
During the 1960’s, economic forecasts and the condition of Spanish land and roads, led the Government to consider a national motorway plan. Its implementation was entrusted to the private sector on a toll-collection concession system (finance, build, operate).
As of 2000, the length of Toll Roads has approached 2,250 km.
ASETA (Asociación de Sociedades Españolas Concesionarias de Autopistas, Túneles, Puentes y Vías de Peaje) was incorporated in 1973. Its main activities include the representation and defence of the interests of its members.
Today it groups together 17 Concessionaire Companies, and 3 Holding Companies, one of them, publicly owned, controls, as a result of the purchase by the State in the 1970’s, following financial difficulties due
to the oil crisis and the recession, 100 % of the share capital of 2 of the Concessionaires Companies and 50 % of a third one.
LEGAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
Llaw 8/1972 of 10 May, on the construction, operation and maintenance of Toll Roads, provides the legal basis for the concession system.
Certain benefits, such as State or exchange rate guarantees were later abolished.
Law 13/1996 of 30 December has introduced several changes, extending the maximum length of concession to 75 years. Also, Law 55/1999 of 19 December allows Concessionaire Companies to engage in Telecommunication activities.
FUTURE TRENDS
Although the growth of the toll road network has been developed on an irregular way during the past, the sector is going through an intensive activity period with sevennew toll motorway concessions awarded in 1999.
For the 2000-2007 period, the construction of 5.000 km of express and toll motorways is expected, which will extend the high capacity road network to 13.000 km at the end of 2007.
Infrastructure investment policy has changed with the requirements of the Maastricht Treaty and the Euro. Now, private initiative is encouraged to participate in the projects included in the new 2000-2007 Infrastructure National Plan, specially focused on transports but also on other activities such as telecommunications, energy, environment, education and health.
Following this idea and to encourage private capital participation, the State has enlarged the business activities in which concessionaire companies can engage to investments in telecommunications.
The toll system has been established in Spain as the fairest and most suitable finance method since it transfers to the user -and not to the taxpayer - the cost of the investment and allows the State to use its resources on projects of greater need.
Moreover, with the different reductions of toll rates introduced in recent years, toll fees are now an
attainable expense for any user. As a result, higher traffic volumes have been registered on toll roads, meeting the principle of toll motorways becoming a public good.
The Spanish Concessionaire Companies are continuously developing different services which require substantial investments in environment, road safety, information, EFC, etc. The quality of these services ensures the total integration of Spain into Europe.
In 1999 and 2000, as a result of the completion of the first stage of a Toll Road Scheme launched by the Central Government, seven new Concessionaire Companies have been created and incorporated to ASETA. Today ASETA groups 23 Concessionaire Companies and two Holding Companies. |
