Object to the North-South Toll Hike
The proposed tolls would make the Highway 2000 North-South Link one of the most expensive tolled corridors in the world on a per-kilometre basis, just as Petrojam raises fuel prices again. For a Class 2 vehicle, a single round trip between Caymanas and Ocho Rios would hit J$10,440. Jamaicans already face above-average gas prices and a high cost of living, and these increases will cut into household budgets, business margins, and the cost of moving people and goods across the island.
Why this matters
On July 16, 2026 the Ministry of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications published proposed new tolls for the Highway 2000 North-South Link: J$2,610 each way for Class 1, J$5,220 for Class 2, J$7,830 for Class 3, and J$1,305 for Class 4 motorcycles. A Class 2 round trip between Caymanas and Ocho Rios would cost J$10,440.
At roughly US$0.25 per kilometre for Class 1 and US$0.50 per kilometre for Class 2, these rates place Jamaica among the most expensive tolled highways in the world, comparable to premium investor-funded expressways and North American turnpikes. That is hard to justify in a country where motorists already pay above-average fuel prices and families are already managing one of the highest costs of living in the Caribbean.
The impact goes beyond the individual driver. Higher tolls raise the cost of commuting, school runs, and leisure travel. They raise the cost of moving goods between the Corporate Area and the north coast, squeezing small businesses and the tourism and logistics sectors that depend on this corridor. In short, the increases hit the Jamaican bottom line: households, commerce, and the wider economy all feel it.
The day before, Petrojam announced steep fuel increases taking effect July 16: E-10 87 up J$3.06 to J$201.34, E-10 90 up J$3.06 to J$208.76, automotive diesel up J$12.50 to J$219.00, and ultra low sulphur diesel up J$12.50 to J$234.58 per litre. Layering toll hikes on top of these fuel prices is punishing for everyday motorists and the small operators who move goods on this route.
The public has only five days from publication to submit objections. Taking 30 seconds to send an email directly to the Toll Authority is the fastest way to be counted. Your name, your voice, from your own inbox.
What the new rates mean
Caymanas to Ocho Rios (Mammee Bay) round trip tolls, before and after the July 2026 proposal
Source: Jamaica Gleaner, August 18, 2025 (current North-South Highway tolls) and Jamaica Observer, July 16, 2026 (proposed tolls). Rates are for the full Caymanas to Mammee Bay corridor.
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To the Members of the Toll Authority, I am writing to formally object to the proposed toll rate increases for the Highway 2000 North-South Link, published by the Ministry of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications on July 16, 2026 following the concessionaire's annual application. As a citizen who regularly uses this route driving a Class 2 (SUVs/Pickups) vehicle, I believe the proposed rates, and the five-day window given to the public to respond, are unreasonable and out of step with the realities Jamaican families and businesses are already facing. Under the proposal, the capped Class 1 toll between Caymanas and Ocho Rios rises to J$2,610 each way, up J$115 from J$2,495. Class 2 vehicles would pay J$5,220 one way, or J$10,440 round trip. Class 3 vehicles would pay J$7,830 one way, pushing a single round trip to J$15,660. Class 4 motorcycles would pay J$1,305 each way. My core objection is the Class 2 multiplier. At an estimated J$158 to US$1 across the 66.14 km Caymanas to Mammee Bay segment, Class 1 already sits at roughly US$0.25 per kilometer, placing Jamaica among the most expensive tolled corridors in the world, alongside premium investor-funded expressways and North American turnpikes. Class 2 lands at roughly US$0.50 per kilometer, a full 100 percent markup over Class 1. The July 2026 proposal applies a similar percentage increase across all classes, so it does not itself create this gap; rather, it preserves a Class 2 multiplier that was already out of line with international norms. Globally, SUVs and pickups used by ordinary families typically carry a marginal markup of 10 to 25 percent over standard sedans, not the 100 percent applied here. That means a personal vehicle used for school runs, commuting, and family travel is priced in a tier other countries reserve for commercial transport, and this increase locks that discrepancy in place. This increase cannot be viewed in a vacuum. Jamaicans already pay above-average fuel prices and face one of the highest costs of living in the Caribbean. On July 15, 2026, Petrojam announced sharp across the board fuel price increases taking effect the following day. E-10 87 rose by J$3.06 to J$201.34 per litre and E-10 90 rose by J$3.06 to J$208.76 per litre. Automotive diesel jumped by J$12.50 to J$219.00 per litre, and Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel jumped by J$12.50 to J$234.58 per litre. Kerosene rose by J$4.50 to J$191.91 per litre. Layering these toll rates on top of fuel costs at these levels is punishing for everyday motorists and for the small operators who move goods on this corridor. It is especially hard on Class 2 diesel users, because the same 100 percent multiplier now sits on top of significantly higher diesel and ultra-low-sulphur diesel prices. The combined effect hits the Jamaican bottom line directly. For families, it raises the cost of getting to work, school, and church. For small businesses, it raises the cost of moving goods between the Corporate Area and the north coast. For tourism and leisure operators, it raises the cost of reaching the very visitors the country is trying to attract. At a time when household budgets are already stretched, approving these rates as proposed would make a basic corridor feel like a luxury route. I am also concerned about process. Members of the public have only five days from publication of the notice to submit objections or comments. For a change of this magnitude, affecting daily commuters, small businesses, and the flow of goods and people across the island, five days is not a meaningful consultation period. I respectfully urge the Authority not to simply approve the concessionaire's application at the proposed maximum levels. A proper review is needed of the Class 2 multiplier relative to Class 1, and that review should be a standing part of any future toll adjustment, not treated as a one-off objection. The compounded effect of the July 2026 Petrojam price adjustments on household and business budgets, together with the length of the public comment window itself, must also be considered so that the North-South Highway remains accessible to ordinary Jamaicans. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, [Your Name]