Letter: Tolls Are A Barrier To Economic Growth
Sen. Walter Felag writes a letter to the editor.
As another legislative session ends, the General Assembly erred in their vote to implement tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge, which will probably be erected late next summer, 2013. I voted for a floor amendment to eliminate this budget article from the budget and against the final FY13 budget which included the Sakonnet River bridge toll.
For the past 14 years as your State Senator, I have fought diligently against tolls on the Mt Hope and Sakonnet River Bridge. Unfortunately, our local East Bay Representatives and Senators were outnumbered.
In my speech on the Senate floor last night, I spoke about this unfair tax on my Tiverton constituents, who go over the bridge for work, appointments and family obligations. This toll is a barrier for all East Bay residents. Make no mistake; this is a tax on the East Bay residents. The East Bay residents pay enough taxes without a toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge. This burden should be shared with all residents of RI. Thank you to all who e-mailed or called regarding your objections.
Residents will be taxed at additional $50 to $60 because they will need an E-Zpass transponder to stay in RI ($20.95 interior or $33.04 exterior) plus maintain a $25 minimum prepaid toll amount.
RIDOT has not even initiated or completed an economic impact statement on how this toll will affect businesses in RI. We are putting the cart before the horse. How will this effect tourism in Newport and East Bay businesses? What is the traffic impact through Bristol/ Warren Route 136 for those individuals avoiding the tolls?
This toll idea needs a through comprehensive economic impact study before implementation and the governor should eliminate this toll.
Walter S. Felag, Jr.
RI State Senator, District 10
Tiverton, Warren & Bristol
Bear401
11:02 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
It will increase economic development in other towns in Ma & RI such as Tiverton, Little Compton Fall River basically every place on the other side of the bridge. It will also greatly increase traffic which is already lousy through Bristol especially on weekends from people avoiding the Sakonnet Bridge on their way to & from Newport. Add in the fact that every retired public employee has had their incomes frozen which will also decrease with every increase in their healthcare deduction they will not have the disposable income to contribute to making up for any loss in that economic development. Of course I urge every retired public employee & their family members to spend every dime they are able to in Ma anyway & not give this state anything. There are plenty of places from Seekonk to New Bedford on routes 6, 195 & 44 where you can purchase anything you want
East side
11:51 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Here is a great example of a person in politics without an economic background. Scary. those that are looking to save money by not going over the Sakonnet bridge from Aquidneck Island may end up going over the bridge to Bristol. Last I heard, Bristol was going thru an economic redevelopment and would favor the addition business. I'm confused, is this Senator looking to keep the towns segregated? Because the toll could be good for local business.
Cape Crusader
2:34 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Hopefully someone builds a better supermarket in town then.. Looks like Middletown stop and shop it is.
David
2:35 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
I WILL NOT vote for an incumbant this fall. Period! We need fresh people every few years. They should make the GA similar to jury duty - everyone gets a turn by lottery. That way the chances of big enough groups of "special interests" being in the GA at the same time would be slim to none. Do you think the current GA will have the GUTS to put themselves on term limits or do a lottery GA? Nope. Then they wouldn't be able to get money from lobbyists and wine and dine themselves. We need a petition started ASAP.
nun
4:46 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
By far, the stupidest part of the plan is to "capture license plates and send bills to the owner of the vehicle." How ridiculous. There goes half of the profit from the toll to begin with just in the processing costs as well as whatever effort they make to track down those that will surely laugh and hurl the bill into the circular file. This state is so absurd.
Mark D
6:26 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
This is a processed use all over the the country. Quite successfully in fact. Yes people will ignore the bill, however there are risk to doing that. The cost of sending the bill to person will be borne by that person they always include an administrative fee. So $4 + $1 or $1.25.
A really concerned citizen
7:01 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Hey I was in Florida last fall, saw a small sign that said something about a toll road but didn't see a booth (Tampa area) when I came home I got a bill for two tolls that were automatically billed to my Visa card ( I was in a rental car ) the tolls were 3.50 and the administration fee was $ 10.25 for a total of 13.75 talk about being ripped off. I couldn't believe it.
Daniel J. Araujo Jr.
11:05 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
I'm writing this comment because I'm originally from Fall River. I moved to Portsmouth 22 years ago but all my doctors are in Fall River. I have a friend who lives in New Bedford who takes me to Fall River to my doctors. Well now he won't be coming because to go back and forth over the bridge woulg cost him like $16.00. All because of the idiots on the senate and house. I hope when they come up for election they all get thrown out that would be satisfying to me. Is our country and states becoming socialist it seems that way. Stop drinking sweets because to many obese people and kids stop smoking stop doing this and that.
Daniel J. Araujo Jr.
2 1st St.
Portsmouth R.I. 02871
Elizabeth Geary
4:42 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
I can sympathize with you, Daniel. I am in the same boat. As much as People knock Fall river, there are some nice areas in nice neighborhoods and it is cheaper. Let me tell you this. I am from Fall River and wantto go back, my husband is from the island and they can put prices up to the sky and Island people don't leave. Newport people think Portsmouth is to far. So there you go. We have had more arguments over this dam thing. I blame out representatives. I cannot believe they did not know this was on the agenda. How could it have taken them by surprise? Getting people to leave this island is like taking teeth from an alligator. They wont leave. So there goes the tolls. Shame all the way around. Not a good place to retire unless you have a lot of $$$$$$$$$$ So disgusted..........