The Lesser Evil Principle on Tolls: What's Best for Middletown?
In political science, the lesser evil principle is that of two bad choices, one is not as bad as the other, and should therefore be chosen.
Tolls might come to the Sakonnet River Bridge. It’s the proposal Newport County loves to hate.
Petitions are inside dozens of Middletown businesses, residents have organized protests and Patch readers have engaged in, ahem, spirited debates. The Middletown Town Council even passed a resolution in opposition to the proposal.
Nobody likes tolls. Nobody likes getting a cold either.
But for Middletown, one could argue tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge could be the lesser of two evils. Here is why.
A quasi-public agency, called the Rhode Island Bridge and Transportation Authority (RIBTA), has been responsible for the Pell Bridge, previously known as the Newport Bridge, as well as the Mt. Hope Bridge, which carries drivers into Bristol, since the 1960s. Its five-member board is appointed by the governor. It does not receive state or local tax revenue.
RIBTA constructed the Pell Bridge and has maintained the two bridges for the past 50 years with bond obligations that are paid for by tolls. Today there are only tolls on the Pell Bridge.
The cost of maintenance has grown to the point that the existing toll rate will not be able to cover the debt obligations for the two bridges in the long term.
Last fall, RIBTA explored the idea of tolls on the Mt. Hope Bridge to offset the rising costs. After several public hearings, RIBTA announced that, come July, they would be forced to increase the tolls on the Pell Bridge instead.
That never happened.
In June, as part of the state budget packet, RIBTA gained jurisdiction over two more bridges - the Sakonnet River Bridge and the Jamestown Bridge. With two additional bridges in its portfolio, the proposal is now to install tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge.
RIBTA officials say this scenario can help offset the burden that has historically been placed on the Pell Bridge, which would postpone a toll increase in Newport for some time.
Shortly after the budget passed, RIBTA formally announced Pell Bridge tolls would not increase.
Rep. Daniel Reilly, who has been a vocal opponent of the Sakonnet River Bridge tolls, urges RIBTA to find another way to avoid toll increases. Some might argue however, that the north-end of the island should pay their fair share.
What do you think? If tolls on the River Bridge will help avoid toll increases in Newport, is it the better option for Middletown? Leave your comments below. If you are not from Middletown, you are welcome to comment, but please specify your town.
Comments must be on-topic, free from profanity and personal attacks against other readers. Keep in mind that according to Socrates, “when the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.”
Peter Davis
6:40 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Pete (Portsmouth) How mmany other bridges are there in R..I.?Put tolls on them (Providence River Bridge) or on the 95 corridor .The next thing you know we'll have tolls on all 3 of our exits from Aquidneck Island. Share the wealth(or tolls with the rest of the state.
Bob Parr
5:02 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
I agree - put tolls on all major bridges and/or on I-95. I would also favor a toll on the Mount Hope Bridge and, hopefully, that would cut down on some of the traffic coming by my house on Bristol Ferry Rd - especially those heavy trucks that shake my 120 yr old house (exacerbated by their use of "jake brakes") and crack the ceilings and walls.
Ray Berberick
8:23 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
From Portsmouth. I will be brief here.
1. DOT/RITBA estimate it would take $12-15 million a year to maintain the four bridges to the island.
2. DOT has been underfunded for decades.
3. The two bridges under RITBA are not eligible for federal funds. Consider moving them to DOT.
4 RI gets roughly $42 million a year in license and tag fees that go to the RI General Fund. Give half of this to DOT to specifically maintain the four bridges.
5. RITBA numbers from their website show annual income of $18 million. $3.1 million goes to salary/benefits of RITBA employees. $2.5 million go to administrative expenses. A course of action would be to give the four bridges to DOT with the $18 million from the Pell Bridge along with some general fund money. The legislators could draft language that these funds must be used to maintain the four bridges.
Ray Berberick
8:23 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
6. Using the old Mass Prop 2-1/2 methodology, and given an $8.8 billion state budget, take 0.5% of the state budget and give it to DOT. That is $44 million.
7. It is my understanding that six state departments were overspent by $32 million last budget cycle. I understand there are unforeseen circumstances. However, we need better accountability at the state level. The status quo needs to be changed. The state government needs to put thrift measures in place instead of creating more taxes, fees and tolls to cover those who go over budget.
8. Is state government completely effective and efficient without any waste? Not likely. It is time to change the status quo. This state could take bold, new measures and be the first to implement new policies to fix this problem in house, make government more frugal, and reduce taxes, fees and tolls on the residents. The legislators that put these measures into place would likely be seen as visionaries and arguably improve their chances at re-election.
John Vit
8:47 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The General Assembly voted to transfer the Sakonnet River Bridge. That is all that has been done. There has been NO Transfer, nor has RITBA accepted or received jurisdiction over the new Sakonnet River Bridge. The Federal Highway Administration must approve the transfer.
It annoys me when I read information that has been posted on the proposed toll that is incorrect or is purely speculation. This Toll is not a done deal!
John Vit- SRBTDG
Jim L
11:30 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012
So We Just wait and see Mr Vit, I think better to be proactive
Jim L
1:25 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012
Mr Vit, yes the Ga voted to transfer The Bridge, If the bridge was WITHOUT the right to toll we wouldn't be here.IF the Dot did their job we wouldn't be here , If the tolls were on schedule we wouldn't be here now, The toll MAY not be a done deal it was called DONE DEAL , Tthe Petition was a JOKE, The Petition got us to getting hearing,Voters are aware that we can STOP this and that the best way is to get the Ga to redact the right to toll and find a more fair way. Our senators and reps fail AGAIN it will be on them!To Fail to do everthing we can in anyway just sets up for failure on a federal level, with over 30,000.00 thousand citizens , the Ga and the DOT has o pay attention to us ..The SUDDEN study by DOT is to go back to a DONE deal, The petition alone was in over 300 places county wide and many, many more places in Newport told Me face to face that they wouldn't take a petition they ALL said they would be more than willing to fill out a economic survey such as the one STOP has come out with, I have fought for this survey for months, the reason is that tomorrow i go for knee surgery. Is anyone willing to devote to this part of the fight!Anybody that can help, ever on a part time deal should contact STOP, Joy or Chee, even me after next week, can't drive or walk, but i know who's what, So everything we do helps even if we end up at the fed level , We should do everything we can to stop or stall tolls till we get there, thank you , JIm lipe
Bob Parr
4:49 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Because we residents of Portsmouth (especially those of us on the main roads) have to deal with the heavy traffic (much of it from Mass.), I say let out of state drivers help pay for the upkeep of the bridge through tolls. If not, RI residents (some who never use the bridge) will be shouldering the total cost of maintaining it and/or passing it on to our children and grandchildren. I would, however, want an easy pass lane similar to the new one on the Pell Bridge and I would want guarantees that the monies would go into a maintenance fund and not into a "black hole" like a general fund.
Nancy
10:46 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Two points:
Shouldn't island residents have one exit off the island that they don't have to pay for?
Shouldn't Tiverton residents be allowed direct access to their state without having to pay?
Bob Parr
5:18 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
I live on the Island and have no problem paying $0.89 (ezpass) to exit. Why should those who don't use these bridges pay for their maintenance through taxes? I am much more in favor of "user fees" than I am of increased taxes. We Americans seem to want all sorts of comforts and conveniences at the expense of others (including our children and grandchildren). Perhaps user fees on all State roads would encourage (Heaven forbid!) car pools - reducing greenhouse gases; slowing global warming; and/or reducing the price of gasoline and heating oil.
Bob Parr
5:27 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
Many of us even allow the poisoning of ourselves and our loved ones rather than pay a little more for food: http://geneticroulettemovie.com/ (a cheap plug for my pet peeve).
J. Lane McMahon
2:58 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012
In that vein, Mr. Parr, I have never had children in the Portsmouth school system, should 60%+ of my property taxes be used for the school budget? Should my income tax be used to fund the Central Falls school system? How about if I never call the fire dept? Should I pay for them too? We, as residents of RI, pay for projects outside of our needs and neighborhoods. That's it in a nutshell.
Portsmouth Citizen
11:01 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012
Patch asks: Which do you want, higher tolls on the Pell Bridge or tolls on the Sakonnet Bridge?
This is and has always been a false choice. There are far more options than toll one or toll two. DOT and RIBTA crafted this false choice intentionally in order to divide and conquer opinion on Aquidneck Island by pitting those who live nearer the north versus those who live nearer the south.
Don't let DOT/RIBTA/General Assembly win with this false argument. Make them acknowledge that there are more options on the table, because there most certainly are.
Portsmouth Citizen
11:30 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012
Bob Parr asks, "Why should those who don't use these bridges pay for their maintenance through taxes?" A reasonable question.
Government should do things that foster a flourishing economic environment. Folks always call for Rhode Island to remove obstacles to doing business here. It makes no sense to set up an artificial financial barrier to a free flowing marketplace of commerce. That is why there is no toll on the I-Way bridge. It would be to disruptive of commerce.
So too for the Sakonnet Bridge. A commercial environment has developed in the region surrounding the Sakonnet Bridge over the past 50 years based upon toll-free travel through the area. Many companies locate in Tiverton and serve the Island, and vice versa. What might seem to us work-a-day commuters as a "small" 89 cent toll will in fact be a large $4 toll each way for commercial vehicles. A business vehicle making the cross passage many times a day could add up to enough money to make the difference between hiring one more employee or not.
We all pay for things with our taxes that we do not use. I don't use the fire department. But I want to pay my taxes so that it is there for all who need it. I don't have any kids in school, but I pay my taxes so the next generation gets an education.
We all should pay for the things that foster general prosperity. This is what has made America great and economically powerful. We all benefit from a flourishing economy that unfettered commerce brings.
observer
5:55 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I live in the north end Portsmouth .And have traveled to work over the Newport bridge for over 35 years. I also travel over the Sakonnet bridge 8 to 10 times a week each way . Tolling this short road is insane.
Did'nt they build this bridge with steel that does'nt need to be painted ? Where is all this maintenance comeing from. I can't see how it should cost a million dollars to maintain. And they are looking at revenue of 18 to 20 million. What a joke.