The Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF1) in Brazil has ruled to reinstate toll charges on a stretch of the BR-364 highway managed by the Nova 364 Concessionaire in Rondônia. This follows a brief suspension that lasted approximately two weeks, prompted by a determination from the Federal Justice system that questioned the legality of the toll charges. During the suspension, the concessionaire argued that the tolling system was sanctioned by the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) and validated by the Federal Court of Accounts, highlighting that the halt in toll collection jeopardized the economic balance of their contractual obligations.

The federal judge, Pablo Zuniga Dourado, upheld that the ANTT possesses the legal and technical authority necessary to implement the toll charges, and he criticized the initial decision that led to the suspension as an overreach into the regulatory agency's functions. He emphasized that the complexities surrounding the fulfillment of infrastructure projects and the criteria for oversight necessitate a more comprehensive assessment than what was initially provided. In his view, understanding the implications of toll reinstatement requires an evaluation of the potential impacts on traffic and financial stability for the concessionaire.

This ruling reflects judicial support for regulatory authority in infrastructure management, asserting the importance of maintaining financial viability for concessionaires while also recognizing the need for appropriate oversight in public infrastructure projects. The reinstatement of toll charges is anticipated to impact drivers and local commerce, as it reinstates costs that had temporarily been lifted, thereby potentially influencing usage patterns on this vital transportation route.