Residents To Rally Against Bridge Tolls Friday
After gaining hundreds of signatures in opposition to the proposed Sakonnet River Bridge tolls, a Tiverton woman is planning a rally at Clements' Marketplace in Portsmouth on Friday.
Tiverton resident Jeanne Smith is doing her part to fight the proposed tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge.
After circulating dozens of petitions at local businesses throughout Newport County and gaining hundreds of signatures, Smith will hold a rally on Friday in Portsmouth that she said will give visibility to those opposing the tolls.
The rally is slated to be held during the Friday, Aug. 10, taping of the WPRO's Buddy Cianci Show at Clements' Marketplace in Portsmouth from 3-6 p.m. Smith said demonstrators should grab their signs and gather in the parking lot.
"This has nothing to do with Buddy Cianci, but I figured maybe he could talk to us for five minutes, I thought it would be a good time to rally " said Smith. "There is a lot of traffic that goes by there at that time - Raytheon gets out at that time - so I figured it would give us some good vision."
Smith urges toll opposers to make signs, T-shirts, and anything else that will make some noise against the tolls on the $163.7 million replacement bridge.
While the state Department of Transportation will open the bridge to traffic later this month, the state Turnpike and Bridge Authority is on track to impose the tolls next summer. Out-of-state drivers would pay $4 and in-state EZ Pass holders would be charged 83 cents each way, the same fare as Newport's Claiborne Pell Bridge.
Jane Wolk Wheeler
12:52 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
I would rather push for free access for residents as opposed to no tolls at all.
Jim L
2:17 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
that won't fly only because then jamestown and the other side will want it, the only fair way on this is no tolls, upstate seems to think this is an aquidneck island bridge, not a state of RI bridge
Jim L
2:28 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
nope that in it self is not fair, to many folks live in mass an work on the island, just because we got dumped on we shouldn't dump on others
NO tolls straight up is the way
Jim L
2:32 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
As i'm going down 24 this morning to refill a few petitions and put more out i passed an Amerial's Chorico just a white van from Fall River, and i thought to myself, jezz even the price of that on a pizza is going to go up, but just for Newport county, not for Smithfield or johnston etc nope just the towns in newport county are going to eat the rise in food prices
Jim L
2:34 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
So it's not just a simple toll, and it's not a done deal, as the saying go's don't drink the kool aid
Jennifer C
3:55 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
I'm just wondering when all common sense left Aquidneck island? In a down economy, how should these things get paid for, more taxes? Bridges do not construct themselves, it's a very expensive undertaking that residents reap the benefit of yet want no bother with what it takes to get it done. Maybe liberals should band together and whine to their supreme socialist leader to create another stimulus to burden future generations with!
Robert E
8:28 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Jennifer that would be fine if we wern't already paying for road and bridge maintence. Now the state wants us to pay twice but are not asking asking other areas of the state to pay twice. My tax dollars are paying for bridges in Providence and other areas of the state but nobody is asking the residents of Providence to pay extra. We are not looking for a free ride we just want to be treated like other residents of the state. Not only do the want Newport county to pay for their own bridges but they want us to pay for our own roads also. This is not asked of any other area of the state and we are tired of subsidising the rest of the state because in reality that is what they want us to do.
Former Ports resident
4:35 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Let's make the tolls optional. If you feel like "donating" some money when you cross the bridge you leave what you can. Some days you leave more, some days less or not at all. Make it like the church collection plate.
Jack Baillargeron
4:39 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Jennifer, there are a total of 136 Toll bridges in the whole Country. I wonder how the vast majority of tens of thousands of other bridges are built and maintained? Could it be with fiscal responsibilty of the taxpayers monies maybe? Just saying these people have a valid point, especially in this State.
Jack Baillargeron
4:41 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Oh there are 2 other toll bridges but they are privatly owned so I didn't include them and the 136 also includes the tunnels and roads connected to them. ;-}
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_toll_bridges#United_States
TD
8:39 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Why do you think they have a valid point Jack? 136 toll bridges in the US is not germane to this conversation. But for the sake of argument, having 2 toll bridges in our state means RI is below average, right?
Jack Baillargeron
9:42 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Kinda missed the point there TD. First we have one toll bridge and a lot of other bridges, it there are 1,000's and 1,000's in the Country that are not tolled, why are they not tolled. Could it be they are maintained differently? Is this some bridge maintenence secret society that takes care of them. Could it be that those bridges are taken care of through responsible fiscal management and pre-emptive maintenence.
Funny how there are other ways to do this than simple raising of more revenue when thing rust up an fall down. Maybe cuts are in order after 78 years of taxing citizens into poverty. Now theres a sensible plan.
Jack Baillargeron
9:47 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Should add that, do you believe for one second that we will not be looking at a raise in tolls, because of the rising cost of maintence? Here is the States theory, we buy a car, never put oil or water in it, drive it until the engine seizes. (honorble mention, It also applies to turbines in Portsmouth) then Steal more money from the taxpayer and buy a new one. That is how we got here. This toll is nothing but a temporary fix and burden on the taxpayers and businesses of the East Bay period.
Jim L
8:34 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
the tolls suck. plain and simple, they will cost newport county many tourist dollars that will just disappear, but what will be left is the increase in fees for everything in Newport county from trucker's paying tolls just to get on the island, no company will swallow this, so the tourist will get hammered with it along with locals and when the tourists decide going to aquidneck island is not worth $8.00 bucks to come and go guess who's going to get the bill? if your reading this it's YOU! sign the petition, stop the tolls
TD
8:42 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Again, more hyperbole saying "no company will swallow this". How do you think the trucks are getting here now Jim? They cant go over the current Sakonnet bridge now with the weight limits, so they're either going around and thru Bristol (additional costs for the detour) or they're going over the Newport bridge. They will welcome this more direct route and put more items on bigger trucks now that the weight restriction is lifted.
The tolls are coming. Fight for minimization, not elimination.
Robert E
12:38 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
TD I don't know if you noticed or not but trucks are still going over the bridge. As long as they use a day cab tractor trailers can still go over the bridge. Aday cab has 2 axels and the trailer has 2 axels only 2 axels pr unit so they can still go over. The trucking companies just swich out the tractor and their good to go.
Chris St Peter
9:00 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
If There's Going To Be A Toll On The New Bridge Just Like The Toll On The Newport Bridge, Are They Also Going To Fill The Bridge With Uneven Pavement And Pot Holes Like The Newport Brifge? Has Anyone Been Over The Newport Bridge Lately? The Toll Money Is Supposed To Be Going Towards The Repair And Upkeep Of The Bridge? Really? That Bridge Is Bumpier Than Spring Street. This Is RI Politics At It's Worst. Charge A Toll, Then Pay Some Guy That's The Brother In Law Of Someone In The State Government $250,000 A Year To Be The "Director" Or Something Like That. Then Let The Bridge Fall Apart. How's That Wind Turbine Working Out For Us?
Robert E
12:42 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Chris there are already major structual problems with the new bridge that is what is holding it up it was in the Providence Journal last week. The RIBTA better have a lot of money ready because this bridge is going to need a lot of work from the get go. On second thought maybe we can get the town of Portsmouth to turn the turbine over to the RITBA also.
Jim
8:02 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Amen brother!
TAMORI
10:50 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The cracks, which are attributed to shrinkage that occurred during the drying process, and will not affect the bridge's structural integrity. - The Providence Journal
NOT affect the structural integrity.
news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/.../cracks-delay-sa.html
Joe Sousa.
10:09 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The answer is and was to fix DOT. and fund it. The DOT has been a problem for decades yet we didn't try to fix the problem. We took the gas tax and spent it on free bus rides and welfare programs. 3.4 billion on social programs . Hundreds of millions for free and reduced bus rides. Till we fix and fund DOT nothing will change. We need to put the Mt. Hope bridge back under DOT . That will relieve the RITBA 's cash problems . I'm not mad at the Rep's who fought the tolls but the answer is to fix DOT, no just block tolls. Fix the spending problem by introducing legislation that fixes DOT. I said it several times for a reason. I hope it sunk in. The 8 billion dollar budget has to much pork not enough common sense. We are paying for DOT mistakes to the tune of three quarters of a billion dollars because the DOT screwed up and contractors won their law suits. The DOT dosser is still on the job..
Jack Baillargeron
11:43 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
exactly
Robert E
12:46 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Joe we have no money to give DOT we have to give it all to the RIEDC to cover all the bad loans they made. It's not just 38 studios but almost every major loan they made defaulted.
Tom
6:42 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Wikipedia ... LOL.
Jack Baillargeron
10:27 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Something wrong with the link Tom? You think something is not true there tom. Did you go to the link and then click on the links, below it to go the the government sites where the information came from.
Though not all article have the references on them at wiki, most do and are very easy to cick on. But if you want to not believe the Federal Department of Transportation web site. have a good laugh. Not smart nut your right to be that way. Wiki is a good resource as long as you verify the writing.
Cathy Lynch Varrica
7:50 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I live in Portsmouth and probably go over the Sakonnet bridge at least 14 times a week. I am a single mom on a fixed income.. I don't own an Easy pass. Now what? I am going to be forced to drive over the Newport Bridge to purchase this thing, and put out the cost of the pass plus keep money on an acct to be sure I have enough to go over the bridge and enough to get back home? I don't need any more expenses added to my car... It's already costing me over $600 a month just to drive my each day between my car pmt. very expensive gas, excise tax, insurance now tolls.. I realize the bridge has to be paid for but how about at least lowering the fee to maybe $1.00 ea way? I hope something good comes out of this... Aside from a beautiful bridge to drive over
Jim L
7:54 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The answer is no tolls, and if you think that trucking companies are not going to use rt 24 vand pass the increase onto newport county consumers then You aren't thinking straight TD, and most of the trucks go thru Bristol right now . To just say "well make the tolls small" I think is the company like, just lull Newport county to sleep while we hit them and only them with a state imposed increase in living expenses
Yesterday i was placeing copies of the petition in shops in Newport and middletown that depend on alot of tourist money, and I was greeted wiyh open arms at all off them. the first thing out of their mouths was" these tolls are going to very, very harmful to our business, something i don't think upstate even thought when they stuck this on us
TD
8:19 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
When the new bridge is transferred to RITBA, they will have all 3 AI bridges under their jurisdiction. I agree, tolls are not preferred, but they are necessary to pay for maintenance, so here's what I would argue with RITBA:
We the citizens of Aquidneck Island and surrounding areas, the residents, daily commuters, and weekend visitors, understand and welcome the fact that our 3 connecting bridges are valuable assets and the life-link to the mainland. We have seen and appreciate how well you have maintained our state's largest and most technically difficult bridges for the past 45 to 50 years. We understand that maintenance has a price, however we are concerned of the economic impact an additional toll will have on Aquidneck Island. We urge you to consider keeping the fare equitable for all of us. Currently you charge $4 to maintain the two bridges who's combined lengths are 3.3 miles, equating to $1.21/mile. With the short span of the Sakonnet River Bridge, we feel that no more than $.60 should be levied on non-residents, and $.25 on residents. When you take this under consideration, please understand that for some, the new toll will be trivial, while for many, a significant burden. Thank you for your faithful efforts in keeping our bridges passable and safe.
TAMORI
10:57 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
"I agree, tolls are not preferred, but they are necessary to pay for maintenance"
Then why aren't there tolls on every other bridge in the state? We already pay taxes that are supposed go toward the upkeep of our bridges.
Robert E
12:33 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
TD it is not 3 bridges but 4 the Jamestown bridge was also transfered to RITBA at the same time so our tolls also have to cover the costs of that.
Ice Fischer
11:00 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Jim L...you need to call up a few of these out of state companies and do some research. With the Chourico truck....ask how many time per day/ week/ month they wtravel the bridges each way...do the math and find out how much on a yearly basis it costs. I oppose the tolls too but want to see the hard numbers
Jim L
2:05 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Ice you just don't believe the prices will go up? well ever shop, store, cafe, bussiness i have gone to have all said the price of their goods delivered is going to rise I think they would know of what the speak the only store, or business I have been turned away in are corporation stores, because they have a policy about petitons on the counters but ever one of them have said"but you can put them on our bulliten board, which i do, but i only leave 1 or 2 pages, most others places live tem right by the register, and i am talking pizza fishing surfing food. gyms hair sallons i don't think they lie when they state they will loss customers and pay more for supplies, so Ice if you don't believe me thats okay, i,m just calling it as i see it an unfair toll with a hidden cost increase
TD
2:38 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Jim,
If you succeed in your efforts, the added maintenance costs will result in an increase to the Newport Toll. How will that help? That may result in angering Newport and Jamestown residents and pit them against us islanders from the North. There's no equity in that.
I work with many people who cross the Newport bridge every day to come to work and they pay that high toll. Not one of them traded their jobs for West-Bay jobs, or moved onto the island to avoid the toll.
Also, a truckload of Stop&Shop groceries isnt going to blink one second if they have to pay a $10 toll, especially when the weight limit is lifted allowing them bigger trucks. That $10 amortized into $100,000 worth of cargo is negligible.
Robert E
3:25 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
TD those frends of yours working on the island live in Rhode Island and pay the .83 rate most of thepeople frequienting buisnesses using the Sakonet river bridge come here from Ma. and would be paying the $4.00 rate you are compairing apples to oranges. At $8.00 to $10.00 a trip most of those people will stay away and small buisnesses like Flo's will close. I have many frenad in Ma. who said they will no longer come to theisland if the toll goes through.
TD
4:06 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Robert,
Not true. Some live in Wakefield, others in Cranston, but some live in CT. None of them pay the full fare since RITBA offers frequent flier prices. $40/month unlimited use, or $5.46/6 uses within 30 days.
Of course those prices will increase if you are successful in your petition.
I highly doubt Flo's will close.
I had many smoker friends who said they'd stay away from bars if they ban indoor smoking. I also know many people who said they'd move to Canada if Obama got elected. All hyperbole.
If the rates are equitable, $.25 for RI's and $.60 for non-RI's, do you really think that would prevent people from coming? The correct fight is to minimize the toll! RITBA will need to increase the tolls somewhere, we all know that since no tax dollars fund the RITBA bridge maintenance. If they slap a $4 toll on Sakonnet, a .5mile bridge, then THAT wouldnt be fair. The amount to paint and maintain that surface is FAR less than those of Mt Hope, Pell, and Jamestown.
If you dont understand this, then you are stubborn. I give up, good luck with your futility.
Robert E
4:40 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
TD If you read the law that transfered the bridges to the RITBA the tolls don't just fund bridge maintence but also goes into a fund to cover maintence on the roads in Newport and Bristol countys. We are not just funding RITBA but also subsidizing RIDOT so they can't keep the toll at a resonable amount like $.25 or $.60. The GA is seeing this as a cash cow and now that they have their hand in this it will continue to go up and up as the GA siphons more and more money away form the RITBA just as they have done with RIDOT.
TD
6:13 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Robert E,
The toll will come. I encourage you to focus your group's energy to keep the toll's focused on Sakonnet bridge maintenance only. If you write a petition with the words I stated in my post further up, I would sign it and I think many more would support it.
To reiterate, I don't want a toll either but it's not realistic. Some call this defeatist, I think it's realistic.
Robert E
7:04 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
TD
First off it is not my group I can not focus their energy anywhere I have not even decieded if I am going to sign the petition yet. Second forget a lower toll the state has already stated they want to use the toll money to maintain the roads in the east bay. The state expects $10 million to $15 million a year from RITBA to be used for road maintence on top of what is collected for bridge maintence. The RITBA budget is $18,323,500 add to that 2 more bridges to maintain plus $15 million going to the state DOT for road maintence and there is no way they can lower the tolls we will be lucky if they don't have to raise them to meet these expenditures.
TD
7:53 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Robert,
Could you provide the link for the law you mention?
Thanks
Mark D
9:24 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
TD if you look at article 20 of the budget you will find the east bay fund. That fund is not an offset fund but an additional fund. So in other words it is not for the maintainance of east bay roads. The idea of the fund is to fund projects that would otherwise need to be funded by federal pork. A project such as the Portsmouth town center project, or the changing of the rotary in Newport. Now I am going to be called niave if I believe that is what will happen. I will believe it when I see it, however as it is written that is the intent of the fund.
Robert E
11:24 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
"For the East Bay, tolling revenue would be directed toward maintenance of the new Sakonnet River Bridge as well as the other three large bay-crossing bridges linking Aquidneck Island (Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth) and Conanicut Island (Jamestown). If approved, RIDOT would transfer ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the Sakonnet River Bridge and the Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA). A portion of the tolls collected from the bridges would also be used for road and bridge improvements in the East Bay only (Bristol and Newport counties) – an estimated $10 million to $15 million per year." From the RIDOT website
http://www.dot.ri.gov/TollingInfo/tolling_index.asp
Nick Avery
2:07 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
This is primarily an issue for us here on the Island. I have seen other postings on this topic and people who live in Providence and other inland communities in RI all say "shut up! It's YOU who will be using it, so pay for it!"
I would love to see the dust storm that would kick up if the State decided to raise more revenue by putting a toll on Route 4. Or on Route 146. Or any other State owned highway. Why not? The sh*t would hit the fan then, I'll bet!
Chris St Peter
11:17 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Check Out My Facebook Page. www.facebook.com/IHOPDartmouth I'm Not A Spammer. I Just Have A Funny Page. (Facebook Doesn't Have Any Tolls)
Balance at Home LLC
11:36 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Does anyone know what happens to the money that will need to be paid in penalties due to the hold up on the part of Cardi's. Maybe these monies can go into the maintenance pot and help offset the toll fees?? ie., Those folks that work in RI should pay the same rate as RI residents with the transponders....83 cents ea way.
Tourists that really make a difference to Newport economy are probably not going to let a toll keep them away. Only charge tolls four days a week, Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun. Delivery trucks can work around it thereby avoiding a toll at all.
Joe Sousa.
12:17 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
People coming to the rally should park at the old Shell station. Give the market a break.
Will Museler
3:16 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
Here's an idea: disolve the RITBA! Eliminate much of their overhead and fold the management of the bridges into RIDOT. The gas tax now goes directly to DOT and not the General Fund so let them manage these bridges and leave the tolls off the north end of Rhode Island.
TD
3:33 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
...and watch the bridges rust away due to neglect when the tax funds are reallocated to other programs. Case in point, the current Sakonnet River Bridge.
Robert E
4:14 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
TD What makes you think that the state won't funnel away the toll money to other programs? The GA has already started to funnel $10 to $15 million of the new toll money away to fund RIDOT projects in the East Bay how long before Providence needs a new bridge and the GA funnels off some more to fund that. This is just the beginning just watch this is how it starts they take a little then a little more soon RITBA no longer has enough funds to maintain any of the bridges. This is how RIDOT got defunded in the first place.
TD
5:02 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Robert,
Do you trust the bridge maintenance to RIDOT? Do you trust that the GA will consistently use gas tax correctly and keep up with the scheduled maintenance? I don't. When money is tight in your personal budget, the non-immediate bills get moved lower on the priorities in order to pay for food and gas. RIDOT has proven this to us already, I know we have all seen it first hand.
The state may funnel away funds, but RITBA will ensure that the 4 bridges are maintained since that is their charter. They've proven that since their inception 50 years ago.
Robert E
8:49 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
TD I would trust RIDOT if properly funded they did an excellent job before their funding was cut. I question the fact that the Mt. Hope bridge is under constant maintence year after year. A properly maintained bridge does not need major work year after year don't let RITBA pull the wool over your eyes they are not doing the crack up maintence job everybody thinks they are. More then half their budget goes to salaries and benefits and not maintence dont for get this is the same agency that wanted to continue to pay toll takers on the Mt. Hope bridge more then what they were taking in in tolls.
Herb Weiss
10:26 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.
FYI
1:53 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
Rt. 24 is a FREEWAY; Let’s keep it that way!!
Economic Harassment or is it something else? Economic Discrimination?
I am NOT a lawyer but I do KNOW Newport County as a whole has a case! I also know the more facts (data) you have, the better the case!
FACT 1: What does economic discrimination mean?
According to http://economics.about.com/library/glossary/bldef-economic-discrimination.htm states that Economic Discrimination is used in studying labor markets: it is the presence of different pay for workers of the same ability but who are in different groups, e.g. black, white; male, female.
Could this definition work for spending due to higher taxes implemented by a town, or towns, because the state in which they lay are forcing “the presence of different” costs/spending “of the same” products/services “but who are in different groups,” e.g. Newport County verses Bristol/Kent/Providence/Washington County?
FYI
1:54 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
FACT 2: What is the definition of Harassment?
According to http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1073792616&type=RESOURCES states Harassment is defined as any unwanted conduct related to race, age, etc that has the purpose or effect of either:
1. violating the dignity of an individual
2. creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive atmosphere for an individual
Also according to http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/harassment
Harassment -noun- the act of systematic and/or continued unwanted and annoying actions of one party or a group, including threats and demands. The purposes may vary, including racial prejudice, personal malice, an attempt to force someone to quit a job or grant sexual favors, apply illegal pressure to collect a bill, or merely gain sadistic pleasure from making someone fearful or anxious. Such activities may be the basis for a lawsuit if due to discrimination based on race or sex, a violation on the statutory limitations on collection agencies…”
At http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Harassment
To ha•rass
tr.v. ha•rassed, ha•rass•ing, ha•rass•es
1. To irritate or torment persistently.
2. To wear out; exhaust.
3. To impede and exhaust (an enemy) by repeated attacks or raids.
I would have to say that by putting a toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge would meet most these for an entire county!
Due to the definitions of these words, is why I choose Economic Harassment.
FYI
1:55 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
FACT 3: Oct 1, 2011 – Tour Tax –
Where else in RI is this implemented? How about The State House?
(I know it’s a public government building, but so what!)
FACT 4: Louise White an 81-year-old Newport, R.I woman won the Powerball in Feb 2012.
The prize will pay $14.7 million in state taxes.
FREE money for the state!! Once again Newport County “bails out” state of RI.
Found at http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/03/81-year-old-woman-wins-3364m-powerball/1
FACT 5: Evacuation for a hurricane!
Is it even legal for the state to toll evacuation bridges?
FACT 6: Goods & Services Provided on & to Aquidneck Island
Irving’s Gas – I have pictures of the gas station in Portsmouth on East Main Rd & the gas station in Providence on Pleasant Valley Parkway on the same day within 2 hours of each other. Which one do you think was cheaper? If you said Portsmouth, you were wrong.
I am hoping that other Newport County residence will go to some of the same stores in Newport County to take pictures of prices; isle would be preferred, of other stores of different parts of our state. For instance, take pictures of isle 5 in Staples in Middletown & then isle 5 in Staples in Barrington in order to see if there is a price difference in products. Petitions are great, but where’s the proof? The county as a whole has to prove that the TOLLS make a difference in our economic overhead.
FYI
1:56 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
FACT 7: Who is going to pay for the 2, mostly 3, new traffic lights in Portsmouth?
Those of you who use Exit 2, North or South, or Anthony Rd will know what I’m taking about. If a toll is put on the Sakonnet River Bridge, the traffic from the Mt Hope Bridge will be unbearable!!
FACT 8: Can Bristol County handle the traffic?
1 lane roads will NOT cut it!
FACT 9: Is there any other place in the country where the “main land” is cut off from its state? Should Tiverton & Little Compton become part of MA?
Little Compton students are bussed in every school day to Aquidneck Island. Who do you think will pay the bus to travel over the bridge several times a day?
FACT 10: The Petitions!
Let’s show the people who run this state that WE WILL NOT BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE ANY MORE!! Let’s FORCE the state to petition the Federal Government to put a toll or tolls on I-95 and/or I-195. NEVER to put tolls on our bridges or taxes on our businesses without them placing the same on all other counties!
I am sure there ARE more FACTS, lets think of them!
FYI
1:56 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
FACT 11: RI “State gas tax of 33 cents per gallon at the pump” (found at http://www.dot.ri.gov/TollingInfo/tolling_index.asp). Why can the state not make this amount work better?
FACT 12: “RIDOT maintains more than 1,100 miles of roads and highways in Rhode Island, as well as more than 600 bridges” (also found at http://www.dot.ri.gov/TollingInfo/tolling_index.asp) why are the only roads/bridges located in Newport County?
What I am hoping to PROVE is that Newport County IS more expensive to live due to tolls on our bridges. Newport County verses the state of RI = will MAKE them put a toll somewhere else in our state and tell them we have had ENOUGH in supporting this state!! Fair IS fair!
I have to admit that I did not read everyone’s comments, so I don’t know if any of these have been mentioned, but I thought you would like to know my thoughts on the matter. Now all Newport County needs a lawyer willing to make a case against the state of RI and WIN!
Check out http://www.dot.ri.gov/TollingInfo/tolling_index.asp to read & send your thoughts on tolling bridges to RIDOT's Customer Service office by calling 401-222-2450 weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by sending email to CustomerService@dot.ri.gov.