Saturday, April 13, 2013
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…
Monday, April 8, 2013
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!
Saturday, April 6, 2013
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will hold two toll workshops this Saturday in Portsmouth.
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will hold two bridge toll workshops today at the Roger Williams University Conference Center, reports The Sakonnet Times. The first workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. The second workshop will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. All Aquidneck Island residents are encouraged to attend these meetings.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Rep. Gallison says the Turnpike and Bridge Authority should give the public more chances to oppose bridge tolls.
Rep. Raymond Gallison (Dist. 69, Bristol and Portsmouth) says the fight against bridge tolls is "certainly not over" and more workshops should be held. The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will hold two bridge toll workshops this Saturday at the Roger Williams University Conference Center. The first workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. The second workshop will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Gallison released the following statement on Wednesday in response to the workshops being scheduled. Chairman Dalington can say that Saturday's workshops may be the only opportunity for East Bay, Aquidneck Island and Southcoast residents to comment on the toll rates but he doesn't set the policies and laws for the State of Rhode Island that…
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Hundreds of residents turned out for the first of two bridge toll hearings on Monday night.
Michael P. Lewis, director of the Department of Transportation (DOT), opened the first of two bridge toll hearings on Monday evening. The second hearing will be held tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Tiverton High School. Many audience members held "no toll" signs. Lewis also encouraged residents to fill out a comment sheet. "The bulk of the hearing is for you," Lewis said. "We will be here as long as you need it tonight." Lewis began with a history of the proposal. In the 2013 budget, the governor approved the authorization to transfer ownership of the Sakonnet River Bridge to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA). "The transfer has not happened yet," Lewis said. The Sakonnet River Bridge will be complete in spring 2013…
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The workshops will be held on Dec. 3 at Portsmouth High School and on Dec. 4 at Tiverton High School. Both workshops will be held from 7 to 10 p.m.
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation has organized two workshops next week to allow the public to learn more and ask questions about the financial challenges the state faces in maintaining four of Rhode Island’s largest bridges, and the possibility of tolling the Sakonnet River Bridge. Where and when The first workshop is set for Monday, Dec. 3, at Portsmouth High School, according to a press release. The second workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 4, at Tiverton High School. Both meetings take place from 7-10 p.m. In addition to speaking at the workshops, the public will have the opportunity to provide written comment on the proposal. RIDOT is hosting these meetings to gain public input on the possible location of a tolling …
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Gov. Lincoln Chafee heard dozens of protests against bridge tolls Thursday at Town Hall, but referred most questions to DOT Director Michael Lewis.
If there was one thing clear from Gov. Lincoln Chafee's visit to Portsmouth, small business owners are far from happy. "Between the toll and the sales tax, you're putting me out of business," said business owner Jeff Phelan to the governor. Phelan, who owns and operates Leisure Limousine, parked one of his vehicles outside Town Hall with a large "no toll" sign. Phelan's wasn't alone. At least a dozen demonstrators held signs and waited for the governor's arrival early Thursday morning. Chafee held the community forum to hear from local small businesses and to "discuss ways to help them succeed, grow the economy, and create jobs for Rhode Islanders." Instead, Chafee heard from one resident after another, many of them being business …
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
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…
Friday, October 7, 2011
Some Newport County residents think it's high time for Mount Hope drivers to pay their share, while others argue the tolls will create burdens on local residents, such as college students.
During a public hearing at Portsmouth High School Thursday evening, residents weighed in on a proposal by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority to reintroduce tolls to the Mount Hope Bridge. The tolls are being considered to help cover a $63 million shortage of money needed to maintain the Mount Hope and Newport Pell bridges for the next decade. The alternative solution would be to raise the toll rates at the Pell Bridge. State Sen. Christopher S. Ottiano (R-Dist. 11, Bristol, Portsmouth), who attended the hearing, said he is opposed to the Mount Hope Bridge toll. “We all use all of these bridges,” Ottiano said. The idea that someone in one town uses something and someone else is paying for it, is a-la-carte taxation.” Since tolls…
41.613121
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Portsmouth High School
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Monday, September 26, 2011
The first meeting will be held at Jacky's Galaxie on October 5.
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Monday, September 26, 2011
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) will hold public hearings in October, including one in Bristol on October 5, to share the updated details of its Mount Hope Bridge toll feasibility report. “During the process of studying the toll structure for the Newport Pell Bridge, at the public’s request, RITBA committed to study the feasibility of reinstituting tolls on the Mount Hope Bridge,” said David Darlington, chairman of the RITBA board. “We have pledged to hold public meetings before making any decisions so motorists could have a forum to express their opinions about re-tolling the bridge.” RITBA hired Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. of New York, N.Y., to complete the study. Five potential tolling options are outlined in…
Joe Sousa
7:16 am on Saturday, April 13, 2013
Our Legislature has set a record for Killing Businesses . Over the top regulation taxes and now tolls. I don't think the bankruptcy of RI is far away. No Hope ! more ›