Proposed toll update – Jan 25, 2013

To all persons against the proposed toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge and the 37,000+ people who signed the anti-toll petition, please pass this information along. We need your help to get the widest dissemination.

Senator Walter Felag submitted Senate Bill Number 20 to repeal Article 20 of last year’s budget which authorized the transfer of the Sakonnet River Bridge to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. Here is a link to a pdf file of the Senate bill.

http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText13/SenateText13/S0020.pdf

Representative Jay Edwards submitted House Bill 5137 which is almost identical to the Senate bill. Here is a link the House bill.

http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText13/SenateText13/S0020.pdf

Both bills will be sent to the respective Finance committees. Based on a number of factors, we believe that hearings will be held in both committees. We do not have hearing dates yet.

However, because of the nature of the system, it is possible we may have only 48 hours notice prior to the hearings. The hearings will be held in the Capitol Building and will not necessarily occur on the same afternoon.

As such, we ask all folks who wish to testify to these committees to be vigilant and be flexible going forward. Here is a link to the page where you can track committee meetings. http://status.rilin.state.ri.us/agendas.aspx

As soon as we have confirmed when testimony will be taken, we will alert as many people as we can.

For people who need transportation, we will arrange for buses to be available. If you need bus transportation, send an email to notolljeanne@cox.net.

For persons wanting to testify, they must sign up at the Capitol Building the day the testimony will be heard.

More details to follow as we learn them.

I'll go as long as JimL isn't driving the bus.

Has anyone noticed that if you're heading toward Portsmouth from the Tiverton side of the new Sakonnet Bridge, there are some concrete barriers and a flimsy wooden barrier to keep people from going over the side and right into the river? It's right where the old bridge has been removed, and it (1) looks like a terrible safety violation, and (2) might lead to a catastrophe if anyone gets into an accident there. The other question that comes to mind for me: who monitors the safety of the bridge construction?

Some mistakes were caught and repairs were made. The bridge was built well and with materials that should withstand the conditions .
When they don't catch Contractors trying to cheat the State, that's when I worry.

Was not RI GA Senator Lou on the highway revenue stream (theft) committee and for the bridge transfer & toll? So now he and several other RI GA members are against it? Or are they all just sharing our pain? Yes, the RI GA that took the Fed Government (tax payer monies) to design and construct the new Rt 24 bridge? Then the RI bait and switch of co mingle the funds and change the color? Yes, the low information voters elected such specimens at both the state & Federal level.
Again, were they for it before they were against it and now are they really for it or against it? OBTW where is the infamous RI Congressional delegation to Washington, DC on this scam still in progress?
Re

Re Rt 24 New Bridge Project egress is a clear and present safety violations.
Yes especially coming on to Aquidneck Island From Tiverton the road surface has large angler dips and irregular surface and then followed by an illusion and delusional haphazard erected road side barrier. Yes, where the other side of the barrier is a drop all the way to the water level and or any structures on the way down!
This is yet another example of RIDOT non excellence in Highway Safety Engineering measures, especially during the construction period. The RI DOT motto is you can pay no more but one can certainly get better project mgt. quality and safety. OBTW the Off island egress to and from the new bridge is not much better and also is an accident waiting to happen.

Drove into Bristol this afternoon, traffic was bad, making it the only free way to leave the island will make things just so much worse

Jim L did you find that article about theFall Riv selectman who will be involving the Mass government in ridding us of these tolls. You mentioned it a few weeks ago but I can't find any mention of it at all.

Jim L, why do you think bigmanny is a school principal?

Jim L, we are all waiting for your answer.

Hi Guys: If you guys would just tell me if you want to hop on the bus at notolljeanne@cox.net ....I can get a head count...Get your friends to jump on to...
Thanks
Jeanne

Big Manny , I refer you to the article in the herald news of Dec 4, about the meeting with Ray Lewis in Tiverton High school gym , qoute"this is a regional problem." said David Dennis, A Fall river city councilman, who said that this would impact his city as well as Aquidneck island. "We want those indivividuals to come to our city, We 're looking to expand our tourism in Fall River. Losing site of the bigger picture, which is what you will end up doing"" I think I can fairly say, as an elected offical,that the 90,000people in Fall River oppose this" end qoute, Next time you call some one a lair do your home work,instead of making false accusations, you have done nothing to help the anti toll fight but have namelessly attacked me again your like the kid that tattles to the teacher about what everyone did at recess

Jim L, it says nothing about the governemnt of Mass getting involved. You said that the MASS goverment was going to get involved in this fight as if they had some right to tell RI what to do. Fall River may oppose the idea of tolls but they don't seem to be suing the state of RI or becoming involved in any other way. Your weak analogy about recess is as false as most of your statements are and makes no sense. What I did was catch you in another lie like the false letter you signed your name to. Finally if you want to attack me for a fake name, might i suggest that you start using your real full name on each and evry post. Also why do you sem to think I am a school principal.

Everyone knows who big manny is and you have failed to rebut my point, if you think that a man who speaks for 90,000 thosand people is not the arm of the mass goverment you make a fool of yourself.As such you have became just an anti toll jester

The government of Mass. did get involved. Governor Patrick sent a very clear message to Governor Chafee. Drop the toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge, or I will cut taxes and drive Rhode Island out of business.

The economies of Southeastern MA and Newport County are inextricably tied together. Massachusetts officials have every right to protest tolls on the Sakonnet Bridge and I welcome their voice and support. The city council member from Fall River spoke sensibly at the Tiverton High School meeting
The DOT has been fumbling and blowing millions for years and now a toll booth on the Sakonnet is going to bail them out? I hope not.

This just came up on my FB feed.:
The Newport Daily News
The state Department of Transportation has submitted its application to put tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge to the Federal Highway Administration, saying "there would be negligible or minor positive impact with a low toll rate," Joe Baker reports in today's Daily News.

Think positive " RI. gets turned down by Feds" future head line.

I sent my own letter directly to Federal Highway Administration. Hopefully, it helps even just a little.

I think we should have a toll

I've lived here all my life. The resident's say this toll will hurt our economy. How? who comes to this Island to dine or do business that doesn't live here. Really there is not much to do on this Island, can't even bowl anymore. Most of us on the Island go to Fall River for there gas, it's way cheaper. I would not feel bad at all paying back a little for our roads. Since 90% of us our getting our gas out of state, and were grocery shopping there mostly also the state is getting shorted on tax dollars. And if someone is planing a vacation to Newport, in all reality they are not gonna cancel for a one time toll. I think it would most likely boost our island economy by keeping the islanders on the island, But I doubt that. people are still gonna pay the most likely REDUCED toll like we get on the newport bridge to go shop out of state. Never heard of anyone not going somewhere because the tolls were too high. Really people..

Joe@CFP: The Newport County Convention and Visitors Bureau website has a link called Industry Resources. http://www.gonewport.com/industry-resources. In this list of links is Global Insight Report 2010. This report indicates that about 3+ million tourists and people who live within 50 miles of Newport came to the island and spent about $711 million dollars in 2010. There is a lot of other information in that report.

Here is the link to the entire report submitted by RIDOT. Each link goes to a pdf file that contains 200+ pages. http://www.commonwealth-eng.com/sakonnet/250_FEIS-R/sakonnet_feis-r_online.html

Joe: Based on that NCCVB report and some other reports from Jakobs Engineering, we have estimated that the State could lose $10-18 million in state tax revenue from tourists who divert. The Newport Grand also estimated possible losses to the State between $2-16 million. It is possible that the State could lose significant State tax revenue. We have estimated that the tolls would bring in $20-30 million in the Sakonnet. We would like folks at the State level to do an independent verification of this. It was not included in the FEIS submitted by RIDOT.

Joe@CFP driving more nails in the coffin . This State is last in business because of thinkers like you.

I still belive t hat the Resdients FORCED to pay NEW TOLLS will be paying double gas tax, at he gas station at .33 cents a gallon to maintain the states roads and bridges and again when they are made to pay another fee to maintain those same roas and bridges.I seem to remember something about an unjust tea tax causing a problem like this years ago

See that Newport advertises in the Fall River Herald for folks to come to the Chicken wing and Chili cok off, lets see now ,$ 10.00 to $ 20.00 dollars to park, $10.00 dpllars to get in , another 420.00 bucks or so for what ever, and now the GA wants another $10.00 just to enter and leave Newpprt county, Does anyone really think this is still a good idea? If Newport County doesn't ned local toirist then why advertise in Ma. papers?

The RI Senate has scheduled a hearing on the proposed toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge.

We ask all who oppose the toll, especially business owners, to attend the hearing at the State Capitol this coming Wednesday, February 13th at 4pm at Room 313.

To all who oppose the proposed toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge: the RI Senate has scheduled a hearing to consider Senator Felag’s bill, Senate Bill 20, which asks to repeal Article 20 of last years’ budget and Senate Bill 242 submitted by Senator DiPalma offering very intelligent and reasonable alternatives for a bridge maintenance plans.

It is imperative that we attend in numbers and in force to communicate to the legislators why the toll would be economically devastating to the area economy, businesses, families and individuals.

Please do all that you can to attend and testify to the Senate Finance Committee.

Welcome back, Jim L. Keep up the good work opposing the tolls. Fake Jim L got a little skittish when he was pressed on denying that he ran for office under the TCC banner. We haven't heard from him since. I find that odd for someone that's claims to be all about "transparency". Why would you share your ID with someone like that?

Earlier there was a comment by John Hedley who asked about diversion. Here is a link to the Jakobs report on the RIDOT website. http://www.dot.state.ri.us/documents/tolling/SRB_December_2012_Workshops_Jacobs.pdf
Page 13 indicates a 21% diversion rate. This was briefed at the two public meetings.

Rhode Island has worked very hard to polish it's image as a place inhospitable to business and where everything costs more. I work in Massachusetts and hear it everyday. The $8 roundtrip toll will be another nail in the economic coffin. The 21% reduction in business is probably too low and does not begin to address the hit the state revenue will take.

ALERT The hearing in the Senate this coming Wednesday, February 13th at 4pm.

On behalf of the STOP Committee I would like to inform you that the Senate Finance Committee will hear the two Sakonnet Bridge Toll repeal bills on Wednesday, February 13. The hearing will be in Room 313 at the State House and will begin about 4:00 PM, at the rise of the Senate.

Please attend and speak against the tolls and in support of the two bills (Senate 20 and Senate 242).

We in the STOP Committee believe that we are in good shape and the East Bay Senators and Representatives have been quite successful to this date.