Southern Tagalog Arterial Road
| Apolinario Mabini Superhighway | |
 | |
| Route information | |
|---|---|
| Length | 41.9 km (26.0 mi) |
| Major junctions | |
| Laurel Highway in Lipa City | |
The Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (also known as the STAR Tollway or CALABARZON Expressway as townsfolk call the tollway) is a four-lane 42 km expressway in the Philippines. Operated by STAR Infrastructure Development Corporation (STAR - IDC), it runs from Santo Tomas to Batangas City, both within the province of Batangas.
The expressway starts at the intersection with the Maharlika Highway or formerly known as the Manila South Road (MSR) in Santo Tomas and runs southward, near Diversion Road, Batangas City. It passes through areas under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Malvar and Tanauan City, Lipa City, Ibaan, Batangas City, and Bauan.
History
In an effort to link the different Southern Tagalog Provinces to the National Capital Region, the government with the cooperation of the Provincial Government of Batangas and with the technical and country developmental assistance of the Government of Japan thru the Japan Official Development Assistance, made the STAR Tollway Project a reality.
The STAR Tollway I, from Santo Tomas to Lipa City, was opened in 2001 and STAR Tollway II, from Lipa City to the Batangas City Port, opened in 2008, is fully operational for all motorists. Currently, only two lanes of the Lipa-Batangas road have been constructed, and this will be expanded to 4 lanes once this section reaches capacity. It was opened as part of the Road Development Project of the government, linking the South Luzon Expressway to STAR Tollway onwards to the Batangas Port in Batangas City.
The STAR Tollway Project I and II was funded by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways - Urban Roads Project Office (DPWH - URPO).
The STAR Tollway is now under the supervision of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) and it is being operated by the Star Tollway Corporation.
STAR Tollway's name and origin
On February 9 2004, the Third (3rd) District Representative of Batangas of the House of the Representatives, authored the House Bill 2753, or also known as the "Act of Renaming the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) to Apolinario Mabini Superhighway (AMS)". On May 15, 2007, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed and approved House Bill 2753 to rename the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road to Apolinario Mabini Superhighway, and it was made into a law, now called the Republic Act 9462 (RA 9462). [1]
Technical Specifications
- Name: Southern Tagalog Arterial Road
- Concession Holder: STAR Infrastructure Development Corporation
- Operator: STAR Tollway Corporation
- Length: 41.90 km
- Concession starting date: 2001
- Concession ending date: (2029)
- Highway exits: 6
- Toll plazas: 8
- Rest and Service Areas: 1
- Minimum Height Clearance on Underpasses: 4.27m (14')
Tolls
| Class | Rate |
|---|---|
| Class 1 (Cars, Motorcycles, SUVs, Jeepneys) |
PhP 0.73/km |
| Class 2 (Buses, Light Trucks) |
PhP 1.68/km |
| Class 3 (Heavy Trucks) |
PhP 2.59/km |
STAR Tollway Exits
| Exit Number | Exit Name | Exit Location | Route Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | Santo Tomas Exit | Brgy. San Anastacia, Santo Tomas, Batangas | Left goes to Santo Tomas town proper, San Pablo City, Quezon province, and the Bicol Region (Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Masbate, and Sorsogon), right goes to Laguna and Rizal provinces when you are facing southbound or pass by the tollgate. | |
| 65 | Sambat Exit | Brgy. Sambat, Tanauan City, Batangas | Left goes to Tanauan City proper, Right goes to barangays of Tanauan City, the Municipalities of Talisay and Laurel, both in Batangas and a direct alternate route to Tagaytay City and other cities and municipalities in the Province of Cavite. | |
| 70 | Bulihan Exit | Malvar, Batangas | Left goes to Malvar town proper, right goes to the barangays of Malvar and the municipality of Balete. | |
| KM 79 | Petron Service Station Northbound | The only service station in the tollway | ||
| 82 | Tambo Exit | Brgy. Tambo, Lipa City, Batangas | Left goes to Lipa City proper and SM City Lipa, right goes to Batangas City and Anilao Beach. | |
| 93 | Malainen Exit | Ibaan, Batangas | Left goes to Ibaan, right goes to San Jose | |
| 102 | Balagtas Exit | Batangas City | This exit goes into the Batangas International Seaport and connecting Western Nautical Highway. |
See also
- South Luzon Expressway
- Batangas
- Transportation in the Philippines
- Department of Public Works and Highways (Philippines)
- Philippine National Construction Corporation