Rep. Reilly Says Says Tolls Would Be An Unfair Tax
Representative Daniel Reilly spoke up against the transfer management of the Sakonnet River Bridge and the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge from RIDOT to RITBA
At a recent hearing of the House Finance Committee Rep. Daniel Reilly spoke out in opposition to a provision in the budget bill, that he said would impose an unfair tax on Aquidneck Island residents.
The freshman Republican was referring to bill, 2012 – H 7323, that if approved, would transfer management of the Sakonnet River Bridge and the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA).
“[The state] does not have sufficient financial resources to assure the future maintenance and operation of the Sakonnet River Bridge,” reads the bill.
If DOT transferred the bridges over the RITBA, the Sakonnet River Bridge would soon see a toll to cover additional expenses that would no longer be covered by the State.
RITBA is currently responsible for the maintenance of the Mount Hope Bridge as well the Newport Bridge. They do not receive state funding and are dependent on toll revenue to cover operating expenses. This past winter, RITBA voted to increase the Newport Bridge tolls to cover the increasing costs of maintenance of the two bridges.
Reilly said he has two major concerns about the transfer from RIDOT to RITBA.
“First, the Turnpike and Bridge Authority’s board has no statutory representation from any of the impacted communities,” he said. “Secondly, the East Bay Infrastructure Fund that would be established and funded by toll revenue would be dispersed across Newport and Bristol Counties.”
He said if passed, Middletown and Portsmouth residents would be required to subsidize road work as far away as Jamestown, Warren or Barrington.
“This will have an adverse impact on residents who use the bridge on a regular basis, harm local businesses both in terms of transporting goods and hurting the island’s tourism based economy,” Reilly told the committee.
East side
1:02 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Short sighted to think that if this is not turned over to the bridge authority then bridge maintenance will actually occure. The bridge authority does a fantastic job maintaining bridges and the state does not. To truly look at this, what is the cost for trucks not being able to cross the Sakonnet bridge over the past number of years? This would be the result of lack of maintenance = no tolls = not good for the future.
Herb Weiss
4:28 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
End the bridge and turnpike authority... This is just more millions in government pensions and salaries ...Let the DOT handle all Bridges...Put the tolls on The I Bridge in Providence and not discriminate against Aquidneck Island residents. We pay gas taxes just like any other Rhode Islander. The sakonnet bridge is a short span bridge and low maintenance design. Where does the federal highway money in this state go? They want to put a blockade on Aquidneck Island and close Newport grand and Newport tourism that generates millions to the State General Fund.
Mark D
6:18 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
The RITBA is not a government agency their employees are not employed by the state. They, like most of us have a 401k plan, so transferring them to the state would cost us more they would get a state pension which would cost us much more.
Mark D
6:24 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
By the way RI gets about $100 million a year from the feds most of that money is used to service the debt we already have for road construction. The amount needed to repair all of Rhode Islands roads and bridges is in excess of $3 billion. So I guess the question is where are we going to get that money. So when the Dir of DOT says he doesn't have the money to maintain the bridge the day it opens I believe him.
Robert E
10:47 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The state can not put a toll on the I bridge it is part of an interstate highway and can not be tolled without federal aprovial witch the stae can not get.
Joe Sousa.
6:22 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Time to Revolt !!!
getreal
7:30 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
The state DOT did have 44 million to build a new commutet Amtrak station in Westerly that currently only has 139 regular users.....Let see, that is over 316,500 dollars per user....No wonder Newport County residents need to pay more!
J. Lane McMahon
8:03 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
I'm thinking that a couple of legislators have friends that ride the train....
Herb Weiss
10:07 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
We don't need RI Bridge and Turnpike Authority, this is just millions more in wasted dollars on another agengy when we have the RIDOT to bid out for repair contracts on any roads or bridges in this state. We're just duplicating all the RIDOT does on all RI roads. Let's look at the budget for the human resources side of the RIBTA .That's all wasted money on what the RIDOT is already responsible for.
Mark D
9:08 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
How many toll collectors does the ridot have that are redundant, how many customer service people for the sale and service of ezpass does the dot have that are redundant. RITBA has I believe has 45 employees a minimum of 30 of those employees would have to be retained by the ridot. As state employees they would be required to join the state employees union, they would get a state pension, healthcare benefits, among other perks. Plus the bridges revenue would be commingled with all the state projects which would be detrimental to the maintainace of our two bridges. You solution is not a solution.
Robert E
10:54 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
RITBA will soon have no toll takers as they are moving to open road tolling. They have already stated that there would be no toll takers on the Sakonnet River or Mt. Hope Bridges and it will soon follow that they will be replaced on the pell Bridge also.
Mark D
5:43 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
I wish that were true but they are keeping toll takers on the Pell bridge even with the open road tolling. In fact they just built a tunnel for them to get to their booths safer, now that the center lanes are going to be open road.
Herb Weiss
10:20 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
The traffic count on the I bridge in Providence is much higher which equates to much higher revenue generation. We can all
save even more money by ending the RIBTA.
This would be a huge plus for our state and equality for the citizens of aquidneck Island.
Mark D
9:10 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Can't be done without federal approval which was denied. Only three waivers were availiable and the last one went to VA I believe.
Herb Weiss
8:19 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority Expenditures & ETC (2012 Budgeted)
2012 Payroll and Benefits $ 3,147,567.00
2012 Operations cost $ 2,275,450.00
2012 ETC Fund $ 1,319,670.00
TOTAL $ 6,742,687.00
Herb Weiss
7:31 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
I think they are doing away with all toll takers all together. Any customer service agents can be outsourced very easily with no union contracts. The bottom line is we should end the RIBTA and save several million dollars yearly, this can be used to pay highway bonds. If any additional toll is approved for Newport County we will have a higher tax rate than any other Rhode Islander and I feel it is illegal. We could again request a waiver from the federal government for another location in RI. The other possibilty is raise the state gas tax by two cents.
J. Lane McMahon
8:00 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Ok, couple of problems here. As stated before, we requested a waiver and we were denied. We can apply again next year, but I would not get my hopes up. As far as raising the gas tax, we did this before for the roads, and it go us nothing. Gas tax revenues go right into the General fund. BTW: according to current RIDOT estimates, we need 7 billion to bring all our roads and bridges up to standards.
Herb Weiss
7:46 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
I would also introduce new legislation that any funds collected from any tolls or an additional two cent gas tax could only be used to pay highway bonds. The other question I have is the highway bonds that RIBTA pays is it only directed to what bridges or general RI highway bonds. Newport County is entitled to a portion of the 100 Million federal highway dollars and a portion of RI gas tax. Any new toll in Newport county is another tax.
J. Lane McMahon
8:02 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
I wouldn't support any bill that sends Newport county toll money to any place other than on our bridges and roads. The rest of the state doesn't pay for our roads, (obviously since were talking about this) so, why should we pay for theirs?
J. Lane McMahon
8:05 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
OH, and RIDOT was responsible for bridge maintenance.......on the Sakonnet River bridge....and we can all see what a wonderful job they did on that span...
Mark D
9:07 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Herb you are passionate about this as we all should be, however sometimes passion clouds judgement. You think eliminating the RITBA will produced a huge saving. Unfortunately you don't have facts to back it up. I was at the meeting a few weeks ago and the last thing we want to do is transfer any bridges back to the DOT one they don't want them, two they have demonstrated no ability to maintain the ones they have. The Mt Hope Bridge was built in the 1920's and in it's current state will last indefinitely. The Pell Bridge was built in the late 60's and once again will last for a many decades to come. The original Jamestown bridge was built in the 1950's was replaced in the 1980's a 30 year life span due to the DOT's lack of maintenance. The Sakkonet River bridge was also built in the 1950's and was determined deficient in the 1990's. 40 Years for another DOT bridge. They have proven they can not maintain bridges. Lets not forget the the Providence Viaduct and the Pawtucket River bridge.
The toll takers are not being eliminated at the Newport bridge hence the reason they built the tunnels, also the employees at the RITBA are not union workers. Plus the East bay gets it's share of the $100 million just look at all the projects in Middletown over the past few years.
Herb Weiss
8:31 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The RIDOT manages the I bridge and all other bridges in this state for the exception of the RIBTA bridges. The RIDOT is repairing several bridges now in this state and doing it well ,the I bridge looks good to me. Newport county is the only county in Rhode Island with a toll.
The New Sakonnet River Bridge is a very short span and exremely low maintenance and will not need any work for several years. The state should approve highway bonds and the Sakonnet should be part of that like other RIDOT Bridges. Newport residents cannot be discriminated againt with higher taxes, which tolls are.
J. Lane McMahon
10:31 am on Friday, June 8, 2012
Herb,
The director of DOT has already stated that the new bridge will require maintenance from the minute we accept it from the contractor. And, according to him, DOT can not afford it's upkeep. The I-way, (who comes up with these stupid names) is literally brand new, so it had better look good. But, given DOT's past history, this will change. And quickly.
Mark D
9:16 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Here are some facts for you the can be found at this web site http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/state-page/rhode-island
57% of Rhode Island’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
68% of Rhode Island’s roads were rated in poor or mediocre condition.
So what you see up top is not what is going on down below and the Iway bridge is what less than ten years old. I would hope it looks good to you.
Herb Weiss
10:08 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
The old Sakonnet Bridge was poorly designed bridge for New England winters. Too many metal trusses all the way down to the water line, versus concrete. This bridge was a maintenance nightmare. The economic impact of a new toll will be catastrophic.
J. Lane McMahon
10:54 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
"poorly designed"????? The reason it is in it's current condition is because RIDOT did not do any maintenance. There's your nightmare.
Mark D
10:27 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Site your evidence for economic catastrophic impact. I know all these reps have been claiming this but they site no proof. Show one study or an example of a bridge that had a toll imposed and it destroyed the economy of the area. Otherwise it is just sensationalism. The sakonnet bridge was poorly designed however is was extremely neglected by the state which accelerated its demise.
Herb Weiss
11:05 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Who's gonna want to pay eight dollars roundtrip to go to Newport Grand or Newport for a day??? Local business and Newport County residents will suffer, Supermarkets drug stores coffee shops Newport retailers gas stations convenience stores Ice cream shops casino clothing shops jewelry shops hotels pubs Restaurants mansions you name it............
Mark D
11:57 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Site your evidence that they won't right know you are just using supposition. Because you wouldn't doesn't somebody else wouldn't. I wouldn't pay $5 for a pack of cigarettes so I quit but lots of people still pay much more than that for those same cigarettes. All that will happen is at most an adjustment to prices restaurant will have $6 for a glass of wine instead of $8. I have always thought Newport is way over priced they have ripping been ripping people off for years.
Robert E
11:26 am on Friday, June 8, 2012
As far as the long distance tourist the toll will mean nothing when you are paying $300.00 a night for a hotel room what is $8.00. It will cut down on some of the day trippers.
Herb Weiss
11:46 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Even if we kept up with maintenance on the old Sakonnet River Bridge, with the staggering cost to maintain that poor design, it would still be due for replacement anyway.
Mark D
11:59 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Washing and painting that bridge with a little bit more frequency would have extended it life considerable. You can't go twenty years between paint jobs on a bridge like that. Mind you the mt hope has steel down to the piers as well it is almost 90 years old.
Herb Weiss
12:12 pm on Thursday, June 7, 2012
I feel that we'll see a substantial reduction in traffic to Newport. The state will see a substantial reduction in sales tax and casino revenue, Which will certainly impact the local economy.
Mark D
2:53 pm on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Now that is the first reasonable thing you have you said "I feel" and that is exactly what almost every person on here has stated is their feeling. Unfortunately feelings are not facts. Fact is the study for putting tolls on the Sakonnet hasn't even been done yet. The study would look at several different factors. One they plan on adding to the study is economic impact. They will also study diversion the amount of people who will avoid the toll by way of the Mt Hope bridge. The reason for this is to determine the impact of diversion traffic through Bristol and Warren. There are several other areas that they will study including environmental impact. You can't put tolls in place without doing these studies, and they aren't going to pay for the study if they can't even put tolls up.
Robert E
11:22 am on Friday, June 8, 2012
Mark there is no study the Governor has said tolls are a done deal they plan to have them done by December. You want facts the fact is now that this passed there will be toll the Governor does not care about the impact just the revenue.
Herb Weiss
9:19 am on Friday, June 8, 2012
6.8M for the RIBTA is too much for duplication. We should take that money and pay down highway bonds.......
Herb Weiss
9:45 am on Friday, June 8, 2012
The RIBTA has stated traffic count is down on the Pell Bridge... The same will be said for the Sakonnet River Bridge... Newport Grand Casino and Newport Tourism and Ultimately the State Of Rhode Island, will suffer substantial Casino and sales tax revenue Loss. Many Newport Daytrippers Will say No to Tolls.... Many come from Massachusetts and Surrounding communities and we will have a STOP SIGN on the Sakonnet River Bridge.
Mark D
10:18 am on Friday, June 8, 2012
Once again supposition. Traffic is down on the pell because the economy as a whole is down not because the toll.
Robert E
11:19 am on Friday, June 8, 2012
Has anyone else noticed that the new bridge seems to have a list to the north? Before we accept this bridge from the contractor this need to be checked out we wouldn't want the new bridge to fall over after it is open.
Herb Weiss
10:40 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
I wish i could put my home in my briefcase and place it on a lot in Westport or nearby Massachussets area, and leave Rhode Island in the rearview mirror and never look back... Unfortunately, I will need to have it built from the ground up again.
Herb Weiss
11:03 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
Tolls are simply taxes and they only go up time and time again...... I feel the residents of Aquidneck Island, Newport Counties, are a class of people that have been unfairly targeted with higher tax rates than other Rhode Island communties...
Nancy
7:07 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
I work in Providence. Most people don't have the EZ Pass like we do and they ARE saying that they are not coming over for ice cream or dinner if they have to pay $8.00 in tolls. We live in the Hummocks and have multiple cars that drive across the bridge each day. Now we'll have to pay a toll to buy gas or go to Stop & Shop, along with our daily commute. I don't understand how the Governor can annex Tiverton and Little Compton, requiring them to pay a toll to get into their own state or drive thought MA to reach Providence ??? Mind boggling.
Ultimately, I guess if you're penniless you either can't get on or off the island Gilligan.
Herb Weiss
10:35 pm on Sunday, August 12, 2012
If the RIBTA and the State go ahead with the toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge, We the people of Aquidneck Island and Newport County should file suit against the State Of Rhode Island and seek an immediate court injunction to stop the toll for Unfair taxes and discrimination. I feel this toll is uncontitutional and illegal based on southern Rhode Island residents paying a higher tax rate than central and northern Rhode Island communities.
Joe Sousa.
6:28 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Send an email to your congressional leaders and ask them to stop the transfer of the bridge . The bridge transfer requires approval of the Federal High way commission. Send an email today and let them know you want action.