Wednesday, May 29, 2013
A U.S. District Court judge has scheduled a hearing for this afternoon.
The town of Portsmouth's request for a restraining order against further construction of tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge will be heard at a hearing this afternoon in U.S. District Court, but it might be too late. A U.S. District Court judge has scheduled a hearing on the order for this afternoon, reports The Associated Press. However, the request might be too late. The state Department of Transportation completed installating a toll gantry or open-road toll system on the new Sakonnet River Bridge last Friday, before the Memorial Day weekend. The system will take weeks to test, but tolls are expected to begin in early July. The restraining order request is part of a lawsuit filed by the town of Portsmouth in reaction to bridge …
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
The Tiverton Town Council is considering joining Portsmouth in its lawsuit against the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority and DOT Director.
[Updated at 7:39 p.m.] The Tiverton Town Council will join Portsmouth in a lawsuit against several defendants, including the state's Department of Transportation director and the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. The Tiverton Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to join the lawsuit, according to witnesses at the meeting. The Portsmouth Town Council recently filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in an effort to stop bridge tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge. The lawsuit accuses the RITBA and Michael Lewis, director of the DOT, of violating the Federal-Aid Highway Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Meanwhile, the DOT installed a toll gantry or electronic toll system over the new Sakonnet River Bridge…
Friday, May 24, 2013
Construction crews are expected to finish installing the toll gantry in Portsmouth on Friday morning.
Commuters traveling from Portsmouth over the Sakonnet River Bridge on Route 24 will drive underneath the tolling gantry for the first time Friday morning - but they won't be charged until this summer. Although construction crews are slated to complete the installation of the tolling infrastructure by early Friday morning, the technology won't be ready to start charging drivers for at least another three to four weeks. "Yes, tonight [Thursday] it will be erected across the roadway and be up by the time people get up tomorrow [Friday] morning, but this doesn't mean it will be operational," said David Darlington, chairman of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. "By [Friday] morning, it will just be in place. Equipment will still …
Thursday, May 23, 2013
The town of Portsmouth filed a restraining order in U.S. District Court against the implementation of bridge tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge Thursday.
The town of Portsmouth filed a restraining order in U.S. District Court on Thursday against the implementation of bridge tolls, only a day after the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority announced construction of a toll system. The temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction calls for restraining the defendents from proceeding in any way with or towards the imposition of tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge, including the transfer of the bridge from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, and any actions relating to the construction and installation of a proposed All Electronic Toll Collection (AETC) system. The full order reads as follows: Plaintiff, the Town of …
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will install open-road toll booths by Memorial Day weekend.
An open-road toll system will be installed on the new Sakonnet River Bridge by this Memorial Day weekend, reports ABC6.com. Despite pending legislation against the bridge's transfer, a lawsuit filed by the town of Portsmouth and widespread local opposition to tolls, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority plans to install an open-road toll system before the holiday weekend, according to ABC6.com. The cost to install open-road tolling totals as much as $2 million, the RITBA chairman previously stated to Patch. The cost for the arbor, or arch over the bridge, costs about $400,000 alone. Costs are added for the transmitters, cameras and other electronics in the arbor. RITBA previously approved a toll schedule of $.75 for vehicles…
Friday, May 10, 2013
The Little Compton Town Council has invited Portsmouth officials to discuss the possibility of joining the town's lawsuit against the RITBA and other players in the Sakonnet River Bridge toll.
Little Compton officials are considering joining a lawsuit against the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority and several other defendants in response to proposed tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge. Portsmouth filed the lawsuit on April 23 in U.S. District Court that accuses RITBA and Michael Lewis, director of the DOT, of violating the Federal-Aid Highway Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Passed in 1969, the act requires government bodies to complete an environmental impact statement before launching projects such as constructing a new bridge. The Portsmouth complaint alleges that RIBTA, Lewis and the Federal Highway Administration did not fulfill this obligation when the initial impact statement on the construction of…
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Residents in Portsmouth and Tiverton say they plan to drive around the Sakonnet River Bridge to avoid bridge tolls.
Bridge tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge are not expected to begin until this summer, but area residents are already changing their daily routes to avoid these extra fees. Despite pending legislation, the town of Portsmouth's lawsuit and outcrys from many communities, the Department of Transportation plans to transfer ownership of the Sakonnet River Bridge this summer. The new owners, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, plan to install bridge tolls on the span between Portsmouth and Tiverton. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I asked Portsmouth and Tiverton-Little Compton Patch readers if they were already changing their daily routes to avoid bridge tolls. Here's what a few, who plan to change their route, said: Allen Thibault …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Aquidneck Island residents traveled to Providence Thursday to protest bridge tolls.
Here's everything you need to know about today's hearing at the State House.
Are you headed to the State House for today's hearing? Here's everything you need to know before you leave the door. The Basics Two bills dealing with bridge tolls are scheduled today for a hearing: 2013-H 5137 and 2013-H 5644. Both would repeal the transfer of authority for the Sakonnet River Bridge and the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge from the Department of Transportation to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. Residents are being urged to attend a rally today before the bills are heard in committee. State House, Providence The bills are scheduled for a Finance Committee hearing after the rally. An identical Senate bill, 2013-S 0020, has been introduced by Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton…
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The federal government approves a plan for tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge.
The Federal Highway Administration has approved a plan to bring tolls to the new Sakonnet River Bridge, announced the Rhode Island Department of Transportation today. The FHWA issued a Revised Record of Decision (RROD) approving the addition of an All-Electronic Toll Collection (AETC) for the new Sakonnet Bridge. The RROD concurs with RIDOT’s Final Environmental Impact Statement that the imposition of tolls on the bridge does not create any new significant environmental impacts. According to the DOT, the FHWA recommended the following measures to enhance the overall effects of the addition of tolls to the bridge: Toll collection is expected to begin this summer. RITBA recently approved a toll schedule of $.75 for vehicles with …
Robert Crane
9:21 am on Thursday, June 6, 2013
The problem stems down to this. Speaker Fox and Senate President Paiva-Weed SUPPORT the tolls. Reps. Canario, Gallison, Malik etc all support their Leaders and will blindlessly do so. THAT is the issue. more ›