Portsmouth To Sue DOT Director, Turnpike and Bridge Authority
The Portsmouth Town Council will file a lawsuit against several defendants, including the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority.
Sakonnet River Bridge
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Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Portsmouth To Sue DOT Director, Turnpike and Bridge Authority
The Portsmouth Town Council will file a lawsuit against several defendants, including the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority.
The Portsmouth Town Council will file a lawsuit against several defendants, including the state's Department of Transportation director and the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, in response to proposed bridge tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge. The council voted unanimously Monday night to file a complaint in U.S. District Court in an effort to stop tolls, reports The Sakonnet Times. The complaint to be filed is attached in its entirety at right as a pdf. The complaint accuses the RITBA and Michael Lewis, director of the DOT, of violating the Federal-Aid Highway Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority voted to establish toll rates last Wednesday despite pending …
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Tolls Are Not a Done Deal, Says PBA
Local group urges residents to attend this Thursday, April 25, at 1 p.m. in Room 35 at the State Capitol Building, for the hearing with the House Finance Committee.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
RITBA Sets Toll Rates for Sakonnet River Bridge; Collection To Begin in July
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority voted to establish tolling rates today for the Sakonnet River Bridge.
Tolls are expected to be in place on the Sakonnet River Bridge by July, said the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority chairman after the the board established toll rates this morning. Drivers with a Rhode Island E-Z Pass transponder will pay 75 cents to cross the Sakonnet River. Drivers with out-of-state transponders will pay $3.75 per trip and travelers without an E-Z Pass transponder will be billed $5.25 per trip. "For the first time, we will be offering a discount for people driving back and forth more than once a day," said David Darlington, RITBA chairman in an interview after the RITBA meeting in Jamestown on Wednesday. For local drivers, regardless of the number of trips over the Sakonnet River Bridge in a single day, the …
Blaine
5:44 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013
So, let me get this straight. If you live in Tiverton or Little Compton, RI, you won't be able to drive anywhere else in the state of Rhode Island without either driving through Massachusetts or paying a toll in RI. Makes a lot of sense to ... who? more ›
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Bridge Tolls Could Bring Lawsuit Against RITBA
The Portsmouth Town Council will meet in executive session this Monday to discuss a possible lawsuit against the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority.
The Portsmouth Town Council will discuss filing a lawsuit this Monday against several defendants, including the state's Department of Transportation chairman and the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, reports The Sakonnet Times. The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority voted to establish toll rates on Wednesday despite pending legislation to block tolls. The town council will meet early Monday at 6:30 p.m. in executive session to discuss its opposition to tolls. The complaint to be discussed is attached in its entirety at right as a pdf.
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Bill Carson
4:47 pm on Friday, April 19, 2013
The Portsmouth Town Council has to tell the public exactley how many litigation matters are currently going on as of right now. At a Portsmouth Town Council Meeting a few weeks ago a reference was made that litigation was lined up out the door of town hall. How many legal matters are at hand ? The actual count ? What are the projected legal costs going forward for the rest of the year ? more ›
Toll Discounts 'Unpalatable,' Says East Bay Legislator
Local legislators said they would continue efforts to repeal tolling on the Sakonnet River Bridge despite an RITBA decision establishing a toll rate structure today.
East Bay legislators said they are not giving up on efforts to block tolling on the Sakonnet River Bridge following Wednesday's decision by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority to establish toll rates. Lawmakers and residents from East Bay communities have argued that a toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge could discourage tourists and have significant impacts on the the local economy. "They are using the Sakonnet River Bridge as a cash cow for more than $20 million to be sucked out of our economy in the East Bay to support the [Newport] Pell and Mt. Hope bridges," said Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70 Portsmouth, Tiverton) in response to the the RITBA decision to move forward and establish a tolling rate on the Sakonnet River …
Govstench
7:27 am on Thursday, April 18, 2013
They might impound your cars until you do pay the tolls. Get angry, get mad, get loud, but get organized and go after them. more ›
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
A Proposed Alternative to Bridge Tolls
One local group proposes a different approach to bridge tolls.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Rep. Canario Urges Toll Opponents to Testify on Bills
Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton) is urging residents to testify before the House Committee on Finance.
Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton) is urging residents to testify before the House Committee on Finance later this month on bills that would derail plans to institute tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge. The bridge spans Portsmouth and Tiverton; however, many residents in area communities, including Bristol, Middletown and Newport, have expressed concern about the plan. Two bills dealing with bridge tolls are scheduled for a hearing, 2013-H 5137, which is co-sponsored by Representative Canario, 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 RI Bridge and Turnpike Authority. …
Monkeyboy
9:50 am on Saturday, April 13, 2013
Politicians are only interested in big business and which ones contribute to their campaigns. Although I think the registration fee should be extended to 3 or 4 years out, I appreciate the attempt in raising smart revenue that wont break the residents backs. golf clap for Louie. more ›
Town of Portsmouth Says Tolls Are Illegal on Sakonnet Bridge
The Town of Portsmouth's fundamental position is that tolls are illegal per se and cannot legally be implemented on the new Sakonnet River Bridge.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Did You Attend Saturday's Toll Workshop?
What were your thoughts on the bridge toll workshops held Saturday in Portsmouth?
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority hel two bridge toll workshops on Saturday at the Roger Williams University Conference Center. Many local residents attended the hearing to voice their opinions on a plan to transfer ownership of the Sakonnet River Bridge and add bridge tolls to the bridge, which spans Portsmouth and Tiverton. Did you attend the toll workshop? What were your thoughts? Should there be more workshops? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below!
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Elizabeth Geary
11:15 am on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
I guess it depends on your situation. For the elderly with limited income this is a nightmare. For relatives who live on the other side, Dr's, etc. This will be a move that is going to hurt. I am not a gambling person but I will bet in five years R.I. will be crying they are out of money and this money supposedly for bridges will go here and there and they will cry"poverty" in Portsmouth again … more ›
Local Yocal
12:04 pm on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Yeah let's look Robert E, The Mt Hope bridge is older than time itself and the Turnpike authority has done a brilliant job of maintaining a bridge that is to narrow and obsolete. Last I checked the Newport bridge is still standing strong as well. Get over the toll, be lucky you don't live in states like I had that charges $8 and more to cross. Portsmouth has little standing here, they are just … more ›