The Anchieta-Imigrantes System will begin operating with electronic tolling in the free flow format starting August 1st. This system, named Siga Fácil, has been approved by Artesp (São Paulo State Transport Agency) and will be managed by the concessionaire Ecovias Imigrantes.
The implementation of free flow will replace the old toll booths with automatic vehicle identification gantries. This change eliminates the need to stop to pay on the two highways connecting the São Paulo capital and the ABC region to the Santista Lowlands. The new model aims to increase traffic fluidity, which currently accounts for about 110 thousand vehicles daily.
With the change, the collection will no longer be made only in the coastal direction, but in both directions of travel. The total fare of R$ 40.60 will be divided into two charges of R$ 20.30, one applied on the descent and another on the ascent of the mountain pass. Before the official start, Ecovias Imigrantes conducted tests during June to verify the equipment, operational processes, and identification systems.
The gantries installed at kilometers 20 of Imigrantes and 33 of Anchieta registered the passage of approximately 2.5 million vehicles. Of this total, 1.9 million were passenger cars (representing 76%), and 600 thousand were commercial vehicles (24%). According to the concessionaire, 77% of users already used the electronic tag for automatic payment. Adoption among trucks and buses reached 93%, while for passenger vehicles it was 71%.
Fernando Ferreira, road operations manager at Ecovias Imigrantes, stated that the testing period was challenging due to the high volume of traffic and adverse weather conditions, but classified the ecosystem as safe to start operations. Drivers who do not have the tag will have a 30-day period after passing through the gantries to regularize the fare through the concessionaire's official channels, either via the Siga Fácil portal or the Pedágio Digital platform, which accepts Pix and credit card.
The free flow concept, used for over twenty years in countries such as Chile, the United States, Portugal, and Taiwan, was regulated in Brazil by law 14.157/2021. Initially tested on the Rio-Santos stretch of BR-101, this technology is already in use on highways in Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Rondônia, and Rio Grande do Sul, as reported by ANTT.
Despite the expansion, the issue faces political resistance. In São Paulo, deputies have questioned the installation of electronic tolls. In Rio Grande do Sul, the issue led to the opening of a CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) to investigate possible failures on roads that adopted this model. In April, the federal government even suspended fines applied to drivers who failed to pay the toll. Currently, bills are pending, such as PL 987/2026, which suggests ending automatic charging, and PL 1.678/2026, along with PLs 533/2026 and 1.795/2026, which aim to restrict fines and require prior notice before any penalty.
Drivers using the Anchieta-Imigrantes System will begin traveling under a new toll scheme starting August 1st, with the activation of electronic toll collection via gantries. This modification will apply to both directions of the highways, eliminating the need to stop at booths and changing how the fare is paid.
With the introduction of free flow, the cost currently paid only on the descent of the mountain pass will be divided into two equivalent charges, one for each direction traveled. The state government expects this change to improve vehicle circulation, reduce bottlenecks, and pave the way for the eventual removal of current toll plazas.
The novelty also affects drivers who do not have an electronic device, as they must settle the fare using digital methods or at the self-service kiosks within the period stipulated by the regulation.
The new gantries have been installed at kilometer 33 of the Anchieta Highway and kilometer 29 of the Imigrantes Highway, located near the existing toll plazas. This infrastructure will ensure automatic identification of vehicles, allowing continuous passage without interruptions to the journey.
Under the new format, the fare of R$ 40.60, which was charged entirely only on the descent of the Serra do Mar, will be split into two installments of R$ 20.30, one registered for the outbound trip and another for the return trip. This adaptation aims to optimize circulation and marks a phase toward the extinction of toll plazas this year.
The change should bring notable advantages, especially for truck drivers. This is because, since many cargo vehicles return without cargo or with fewer axles on the pavement, the separate charge by direction may result in a lower amount paid on the return trip.
For those who already use an electronic tag, the collection will continue to be done automatically. Artesp estimates that this group represents 77% of vehicles traveling through the Anchieta-Imigrantes System, reaching 93% among commercial vehicles.
Drivers without tags will need to check their debts on the Siga Fácil platform and can pay via Pix, credit card, or at the kiosks provided by Ecovias Imigrantes. The deadline for regularizing electronic fares has been extended until November 16th, following National Traffic Council Resolution 277. After this date, the previous 30-day period for debt settlement will be reinstated. Those who do not pay will be subject to a fine of R$ 195.23 and the registration of five points on the National Driver's License.
According to the director of Artesp, the implementation of free flow does not alter the tariff model established in the concession contract of the Anchieta-Imigrantes System, meaning there will be no discounts for frequent users, unlike what happens in more recent concessions.
In addition to the collection, the gantries will become part of the state program Muralha Paulista, sharing real-time data with the Highway Military Police. These devices capture information such as license plate, vehicle category, weight, and number of axles. Raquel França Carneiro informed g1 Santos that the technology used has a precision of 99.99%, even under adverse conditions such as rain, fog, dirty plates, or when vehicles travel side by side.
Even after the start of free flow operation, the current toll plazas will remain open provisionally to guarantee the free passage of vehicles. The partial removal of these structures will depend on the implementation of the new Convoy Operation model, whose tests are scheduled for the second half of the year.
