Costa Rica has taken several measures to address rising fuel prices, with publicity campaigns and new restrictions encouraging the public to conserve energy and consume less gasoline. The government is also considering measures that seek to minimize the effect of the worldwide fuel crisis on the cost of living.
Traffic regulations put in place last week use license plate numbers to restrict 20% of the vehicles on the road from entering the San José metropolitan area at rush hour on any given weekday. The public has been advised that the intent of the restrictions is that commuters not seek alternate routes, but leave their vehicles at home and find an alternate mode of transportation once a week.
The new plan greatly expands the area covered by existing restrictions, now extending out to and including the capital city’s beltway, known as the circunvalación. Rush hour traffic was noticeably lighter by the end of last week, with over 1000 citations reportedly issued to commuters who flouted or were unaware of the new regulations.
In a parallel attempt to encourage Costa Ricans to consume less fuel and reduce the impact of rising oil prices on the cost of living, the government is also considering a change in existing fuel taxes.
Currently, diesel fuel is taxed at a rate of 16%, regular gasoline at 25%, and super at 27%. The new rates would increase the price of both super and regular, while decreasing the cost of diesel in hopes that farmers, long-haul truckers and mass-transit providers, most of whom rely on diesel fuel, will be able to keep their prices stable.
The new plan, presented to the Legislative Assembly last week, would set regular gasoline at 779 colones per liter (approximately $5.70/gal) and super at 801/liter (about $5.86/gallon), with the national oil refinery requesting another $0.43/gal hike for mid-July.
