Travel on the WHSD will rise in price for the fourth time in a year. Cost of travel on the WHSD in St. Petersburg after opening
Since October 14 this year, the Magistral company Northern capital» (MCS) introduces new tariffs for travel on the WHSD. They will affect only owners of transponders - electronic devices that allow you to write off tolls without stopping the car. “The change is uniform for all vehicle classes and route options,” the MCC statement says.
40 rubles more expensive
Travel along the entire WHSD highway has increased in price for passenger cars by more than 40 rubles - from 229 rubles to 270 rubles 30 kopecks. Travel prices for certain sections of the route have also increased proportionally.
In addition, prices for vehicles of classes 3 and 4 (cars with trailers and trucks) are increasing when paying in cash or by bank card. From October 14, the cost of travel in one tariff zone for class 3 will be 150 rubles, for class 4 - 200 rubles. There are a total of five tariff zones on the WHSD.
“The tariffs applied when paying in cash and by bank cards at toll booths do not change for vehicles of classes 1 and 2,” the WHSD notes.
Finally, from October 14, this type of fare payment, such as a transponder with a subscription fee, will be cancelled. Instead, tariff options are being introduced. So, for 100 rubles a month you can get a 10% discount on the base tariff for a passenger car. And for 5 thousand - 100% discount. The last option is actually unlimited tariff for the use of the WHSD. For trucks, its cost will be 15 thousand rubles per month.
I liked the promotion
This tariff increase is already the fourth this year. On February 4, MSS began charging money for travel along the central section and at the same time raised prices on the southern and northern sections, citing the fact that the route was fully operational and the quality of service had increased by an order of magnitude. From that moment on, the entire WHSD began to cost 300 rubles when paying in cash and 229 when paying by transponder.
On May 15, the price of travel increased when paying in cash on the section of the WHSD from Bogatyrsky Ave. to Primorsky Ave. and to Vasilievsky Island. The tariff has doubled: from 50 to 100 rubles. The MCC explained this by the desire to transfer drivers to transpoders.
This also explained the next increase in prices that occurred on July 22. It also only affected those who do not have transponders. Travel along the entire highway began to cost them 500 rubles.
For regular customers
Now it’s the turn for transponder owners. "West speed diameter is a project that has two sides: investment and infrastructure. During the operation of the WHSD, two important groups of problems are solved: commercial, which consists of achieving economic indicators for the operation of the highway, and social - this is unloading the road network, removing transport from the central areas of the city, which is achieved by ensuring sustainable demand for road services. It is within the framework of solving these problems that the tariff policy is being built,” MCC explained to OK-inform, adding that raising tariffs “will make it possible to ensure economic efficiency, minimally affecting WHSD traffic.”
According to MCC, currently up to 80% of trips on the WHSD are paid by transponder. At the same time, savings compared to tariffs when paying in cash reach 90% in some cases. The total traffic on the WHSD is around 300 thousand vehicles per day.
One transponder for all
Another innovation in the near future should be the possibility of using transponders from different operators on different toll roads. Since October 14, MCC has made changes to the rules for the provision of services, which provide legal grounds for the introduction of so-called interoperability, that is, with the MCC transponder it will be possible to pay for trips on most other toll roads in Russia (for example, sections of the Moscow - St. Petersburg M-11 highway). In the same way, transponders of other operators will operate on the WHSD.
As the MCC told OK-inform, with a high degree of probability this will happen this year.
Currently, there are about 400 thousand MCC transponders in circulation.
06/09/2017
Drivers complain about transponders, which should allow them to drive along the toll Western High-Speed Diameter not only at a discount, but also quickly: not everyone works. Or they work after much thought. As a result, traffic jams accumulate on the transponder strips. Magistral Northern Capital LLC, which operates the WHSD, is aware of the complaints. But they say that the drivers themselves are to blame: the transponders are not attached correctly or the money is not deposited into the account.
This is what they write on the forums.
“Today I danced like a clown in front of three stripes, waving a transponder in my hand, but it didn’t help. Previously, it happened that you had to cast a spell for a minute, but rarely - usually it worked right away. Today on the way to work it worked fine, but upon returning it flatly refused to work. I think it's a glitch in their system. But this is not the point of my indignation - there may be technical problems. Why is it not possible to manually enter the transponder number at the box office? And why are the employees doing nothing to resolve the problem, except repeating like a broken record: “the transponder is not readable, you will have to pay in cash” (by the way, the price of travel from Primorsky to Bogatyrsky with and without a transponder differs by about eight times) , “and then go to the office, they will replace your transponder - it will probably help”?..”
“I completely agree about the inaction of personnel when transponders do not work, is it possible to give them a hand-held reader? And in the event of an emergency, cashiers stupidly close their booths..."
“We checked the transponder at the Northern Capital Highway office.” Verdict: OK, we won’t change it. I had to starve it out. They changed it, but the new transponder works in 50% of cases. At the request of the operators, I have already driven under the barrier and leaned out of the window, it doesn’t work. In the office, the girl began to list car options with which the transponder would not work, the list included: athermal windows, heated windows, rain sensor... While I was arguing, a group of spectators gathered in the office, and it turned out that they had the same problem...”
“I have heated glass and a rain sensor. It works and beeps properly, but only when you drive close to the barrier. That is, you have to stop anyway..."
Maybe you buy transponders from unreliable manufacturers? - asked “City 812” to Northern Capital Highway LLC.
We already buy them from Norway, France and Austria,” answered press secretary Andrei Tsapu. - True, after five years of use the battery may run out. Since the first transponders were issued back in 2011, many are really in need of a replacement. But now citizens have 360 thousand transponders in their hands, and only a few apply for replacements. Each user can change their transponder in the office to a new one. True, first they will make sure that it really does not work.
Some drivers carry the transponder in the glove compartment and take it out in front of the barrier. Which makes no sense, because the first reading antenna is located 30 meters before the barrier. In addition, the transponder must be mounted on the glass with the desired side facing the antenna.
In general, complainants are encouraged to experiment with mounting the device. True, a number of motorists believe that the problem is not their stupidity, but the imperfection of technology. That's how stubborn they are.
Not long ago, the last stage of construction of the Western High-Speed Diameter in St. Petersburg was completed. The presence of a toll intra-city highway now makes it possible to get from the north of the city to the south much faster. For example, it will take about half an hour to get from Komendantsky Prospekt to the airport.
How much will motorists have to pay in 2017 for the opportunity to travel comfortably and without traffic jams, and what preferential options for paying for travel on the WHSD are offered today?
The WHSD has become not only a new road for high-speed traffic, but also a kind of landmark. In addition to the roads themselves, several fixed bridges were built.
The most beautiful central section of the highway was inaugurated in early December last year. Residents of the city and guests of the northern capital had the opportunity to drive for free along the newly commissioned road and evaluate the quality of the road surface. However, from February 4, 2017, the road became completely toll on all sections of the route.
Shortly before the introduction of the new toll regime, tariffs were published on the official website of the Western High-Speed Diameter (www.whsd.ru).
The fare was changed for the first time since 2015, when the cost for travel on all northern sections was set at 100 rubles, and on southern sections - 80 rubles. Today, fares are distributed somewhat differently.
The increase in tariffs is due to the need to achieve payback on the road construction project. The construction was carried out partly at the expense of investors, so the approval of tariffs was carried out by the city government together with the concessionaire "Northern Capital Highway".
Initially, it was reported that the cost of travel on all sections of the WHSD should not exceed 644 rubles. By decree of the Governor of St. Petersburg, the cost of travel on the WHSD was determined in the amount 14 rubles for each kilometer.
From February 4, 2017, general tariffs were adopted, which apply when paying by credit card or cash. The fare depends on the class of car and the number of tariff zones crossed.
The highway is divided into 5 tariff zones:
- Ring Road (SOUTH) -> Blagodatnaya Street.
- Blagodatnaya Street -> Makarova Embankment.
- Makarova embankment -> promising interchange with Shuvalovsky Prospekt.
- Promising interchange with Shuvalovsky Prospekt -> Ring Road (North).
- Ring Road (North) -> E-18 “Scandinavia”.
A map with zone designations printed on it can be viewed on the official websites of the Western High-Speed Diameter or the Northern Capital Highway.
The fare for each of the five tariff zones is 60 rubles for vehicle 1st class, to travel along the entire highway you will have to pay 300 rubles. For a 2nd class vehicle the tariff is 100 rubles, 3rd class (the number of vehicle axles is three) - 130 rubles, 4th class (the number of vehicle axles is four) - 170 rubles.
Almost all passenger cars with two axles and a height above the front axle equal to or less than 1.3 meters fall under the definition of first class vehicles.
When passing through a toll booth, the vehicle class is determined by the system. You can check the car class yourself if we are talking about a large SUV. To do this, you need to measure the distance from the surface of the earth to the highest point of the car hood.
If the resulting measurement does not exceed 130 cm, then the car falls under the first group; if it exceeds, it falls under the second, and you will have to pay 100 rubles, not 60.
General WHSD toll rates are suitable for those who use the expressway occasionally and pay in cash or by card when passing through the toll gate.
To pay, you must select in advance a lane of the road that is open for travel and accepting cash or non-cash funds. Please note that when paying by card, plastic products with payment system Maestro are not accepted.
For those who often use the toll road and would like to pay for travel on more favorable terms, it is possible to pay automatically using a transponder, a special electronic device with an innovative contactless system Flow+.
At any point of entry and exit from the toll highway, frames with antennas and video cameras are installed that record the passage of cars. Thus, a transponder with the Flow+ system allows you to more accurately determine the number of kilometers traveled along the WHSD and pay only for the distance traveled along the highway.
The transponder is installed in a certain part of the car so that the information can be read correctly and makes it possible to receive discounts on travel. The device must be installed taking into account the characteristics of the vehicle, the windshield of which is equipped with an anti-icing net. Recommendations for installing transponders are given on the company's official website.
Transponders are provided free of charge upon concluding an agreement and depositing a minimum amount into the subscriber account. Owners of cars equipped with transponders can drive through any free toll booths.
While frames with antennas for reading transponders are intended only for those who have a device and are not suitable for paying with cash or card.
To obtain a transponder, you can contact the sales offices of the Northern Capital Magistral company (2 offices: on Krasnoputilovskaya and Planernaya). Mobile device sales points (total 5 points of sale) or order delivery of equipment by courier to your home or office within the Ring Road.
When concluding an agreement, it is necessary to present the original passport and deposit 1000 rubles into the subscriber account; the motorist spends funds from this amount on travel along the WHSD, receiving a discount of 10%.
Today, the number of users of the toll highway with the Transponder system is 60% of the total number of motorists traveling along the WHSD. This fact confirms the benefits of using a transponder to pay for travel, especially for those who travel along small sections of the highway.
There are two tariffs: Basic Transponder and Transponder with subscription fee. The subscription fee is 50 rubles and gives an additional 10% discount on the basic Transponder tariff.
Also, within both tariffs there is a 50% discount on highway travel at night from 00:00 to 05:59. The tariff plan can be changed at the sales office; tariff changes are possible no more than once a month.
In order to evaluate the benefits of a transponder, it is necessary to consider several examples. As part of the general tariff, when paying in cash or with a bank card for travel along the route from the WHSD interchange in the Skadndinavia area to the WHSD and Ring Road (North) interchange, you will have to pay 60 rubles.
If you received a transponder for use and topped up your balance by 1000 rubles, the discount will be 15%, and the fare will be 51 rubles (60-60*0.15).
For those whose tariff includes subscription fee, the trip will cost 45.90 rubles (51-51*0.10). At night, owners of cars with transponders will pay only half of 22.95 rubles, while within the general tariff the cost at night does not change and is 60 rubles.
Even greater benefits can be obtained if the motorist uses only small area roads, for example, from the WHSD junction in the area of Blagodatnaya Street to Krasnoputilovskaya.
If a transponder is not installed in the car, it will not be possible to calculate the end point of the route on this route and the driver will in any case have to pay 60 rubles for Tariff Zone 1. With a transponder, the fee will be only 9.40 rubles during the day, 4.70 rubles at night according to basic tariff or 8.46 rubles during the day, 4.23 rubles at night according to the tariff with a subscription fee.
Tables with tariff schedule are listed on the company's official website. You can also use a calculator to calculate the cost of travel depending on the vehicle class, time of day, payment method and tariff plan, starting and ending points. The calculation also shows the estimated travel time along the highway.
You can check your account balance in your personal account on the Northern Capital Highway website, in the mobile application, or by sending an SMS to 7522 with the text “zsd [space] [electronic payment instrument number].”
In this case, it is not necessary to enter the entire number; it is enough to enter a few digits of the number after the zeros. In response, you will receive an SMS with information about your balance. You can also top up your balance through Personal Area, mobile app, online on the website, at the sales office or through partners, for example, through Sberbank.