Expansion concept: "Platon" may appear on regional roads
Russia may introduce a toll for trucks on regional and municipal roads, similar to the Platon system operating on federal highways — a corresponding concept is currently being developed for this. Despite the fact that the final decision on the expansion of this system has not yet been made, it is in any case only a matter of time, experts believe. If tolls are introduced on new roads, carriers warn of an imminent increase in tariffs for their services. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
Evaluate the impact
In Russia, a concept is being developed for the "creation and operation of toll collection systems to compensate for damage caused to public roads of regional, inter-municipal or local significance by vehicles with a maximum permissible mass of over 12 tons." Information about the completion of the competition for its creation is posted on the official website of the Unified Information System in the field of procurement.
The customer of this concept, as follows from the data posted on this portal, is the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Roads of Russia" of the Federal Road Agency (Rosavtodor). The Higher School of Economics (HSE) is working on its creation. The contract amount is 73.125 million rubles.
The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation confirmed to Izvestia that the development of such a concept is underway. The Ministry of Transport noted that currently "the economic impact of the possibility of extending the Platon system to regional roads is being assessed." To carry out such an assessment, it is necessary to conduct appropriate research and modeling, the department added. At the same time, the final decision has not yet been made, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation emphasized.
The experience of the Platon system has significant potential for scaling at the regional level, the press service of the system told Izvestia. The company noted that technological solutions, platform architecture and administrative procedures can be adapted to create similar regional toll collection systems for trucks.
— At the same time, the issue of the introduction and specifics of using Plato's developments in the regions will be decided by the Government of the Russian Federation, taking into account all economic, technological and legal nuances. The final decision will be made after a comprehensive assessment of the expediency and effectiveness of applying this experience in the specific conditions of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation," Plato noted.
The Platon system appeared in Russia in November 2015. It provides for the collection of fees to compensate for damage caused to public roads of federal significance by trucks with a maximum permissible weight of over 12 tons. Starting from February 1, 2025, the tariff is 3.34 rubles per kilometer. The funds received go to the federal budget of the Russian Federation and are directed to the development of road infrastructure. Last year, according to the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, thanks to the funds received by Platon, more than 485 km of roads were repaired in 28 regions of the country. In 2025, 55 sections of federal roads are planned to be repaired using funds raised through the Platon system.
A tool for regions
The contract for the development of the concept signed with the Federal State Institution Roads of Russia will be completed in December 2025, the Higher School of Economics told Izvestia. Within its framework, it is planned to answer questions on the technical and technological support of regional toll collection systems to compensate for damage caused to highways of regional and local significance by trucks weighing over 12 tons; develop approaches to determining the locations of automatic stationary and mobile control posts; explore the possibilities of using photovideofixation complexes as part of regional systems; determine performance indicators the functioning of regional systems and monitoring their achievement. In addition, it is necessary to resolve issues on measures to protect and store information contained in the system, as well as determine the principles and algorithms for using on-board devices.
— When making a decision on the implementation of this system, the subjects of the Russian Federation and local governments will receive recommendations that will allow them to acquire an additional source of financing for highways and reduce the costs of its implementation. In addition to technical solutions, HSE will also develop scientifically sound proposals on the organizational and legal form for the creation and operation of regional toll collection systems for damage compensation, the university's press service told Izvestia.
The Federal Road Agency could not promptly respond to Izvestia's request regarding the need to develop this concept and the prospects for extending the Platon system to new routes.
It's only a matter of time
Despite the fact that the decision to expand the Platon system to regional and municipal roads has not yet been made, experts interviewed by Izvestia believe that it is only a matter of time. According to Igor Morzharetto, a member of the presidium of the Public Council under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, the idea of introducing the Platon system or its equivalent on regional and municipal roads has been discussed for a long time.
— After Platon was introduced on federal highways, a number of carriers began to build their routes bypassing regional and municipal roads. As a result, the already poor condition of these trails has become even worse. At the same time, most regional and municipal budgets simply do not have the necessary funds even to maintain existing roads in order. Meanwhile, by 2030, 60% of regional highways are scheduled to be brought to a standard state.: this will require huge finances. Therefore, I think that the introduction of Plato or a similar system to them can be expected, if not this year, then next year," Igor Morzharetto told Izvestia.
Anton Shaparin, Vice President of the National Automobile Union (NAS), has no doubt that Plato will soon expand to regional and municipal roads. At the same time, he does not exclude that the next stage may be the introduction of additional categories of freight transport that will have to pay for travel.
— Recently, even Gazelles with elongated bodies and trailers have been used on long-distance routes. It is quite possible that in the future Platon can lead for them," the NAS Vice president believes.
Maxim Kadakov, editor—in-chief of Za Rulem magazine, also believes that the introduction of a truck toll system for driving on regional and municipal roads is a matter of the near future. Without it, it will be difficult to maintain these routes, given the shortage of funds for road construction in many regions, he notes. However, before distributing this system, it is necessary to resolve the issues that have recently arisen regarding its operation.
— Given the fact that electronic warfare systems are regularly activated in many regions, the Platon system often malfunctions — it incorrectly determines the location of the truck, which is why carriers receive serious fines for allegedly not paying for travel. This issue must be resolved, especially since facilities protected by electronic warfare are often located right next to regional or municipal highways," Maxim Kadakov said.
Further development is required
The work on the creation of the Plato expansion concept is explained by the desire of regional and municipal authorities to replenish their budgets, says Taras Koval, president of the Association of Transport Experts and Specialists. However, the costs of its creation and maintenance on new roads may not pay off, he warns.
— In 2018, due to regional highways in Germany, the length of roads for which freight transport was charged increased from 15 to about 52 thousand km. Despite the fact that the "paid" threshold was lowered before that: from 12 to 7.5 tons. As a result, the figures for paid travel increased by only 25%," Taras Koval gave an example.
An on-board device installed on a vehicle with a lifting capacity of over 12 tons, after registration of the vehicle in the state register of the Platon toll collection system
In his opinion, regardless of whether the Plato's coverage area will be expanded or not, this system needs serious modernization and improvements.
— First of all, it is necessary to differentiate the tariff depending on the number of axes. It also makes sense to differentiate the tariff depending on the age of the truck and its environmental class — this will be an additional incentive for updating the truck fleet in the country," said Taras Koval.
In addition, according to the vice-president of the Association of Transport Experts and Specialists, with the help of Plato, domestic truck models can be made more attractive by setting a lower road toll for the carriers that operate them. Also, reduce the tariff for transport using alternative energy sources — gas fuel, and in the future electricity and hydrogen, Taras Koval believes.
Tariffs will increase
According to Anton Shaparin, the potential expansion of Plato will lead to an increase in transportation tariffs, which in turn will be included in the cost of goods. Vladimir Matyagin, president of the Gruzavtotrans Association, expresses the same concerns. According to him, if now carriers that route bypassing federal highways that pay for trucks can offer lower tariffs for their services, then after the introduction of tolls on regional and municipal highways they will no longer have such an opportunity.
"Ultimately, the end user will pay for the expansion of this system," he said.
If fees are introduced for travel on regional and municipal freight transport roads, then the quality of these routes should be appropriate, Vladimir Matyagin emphasized. In this case, the Gruzavtotrans association, as part of public control, will require regional and municipal authorities to ensure the proper level of roads under their jurisdiction, he promised.
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