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!
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 …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
State officials told the crowd that fees on the Mount Hope or Sakonnet River bridges are unavoidable to maintain the spans.
Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority Chairman David Darlington hadn't yet made it through the second slide of his presentation when the questions started. East Bay and Aquidneck Island residents peppered Darlington and Department of Transportation Director Michael Lewis with pointed questions and comments, most opposing proposed tolls on the Mount Hope and Sakonnet River bridges, throughout a forum last night at the Burnside Building on Hope Street in Bristol. The response was not an unexpected development, Darlington said. Residents have come out in force at previous public hearings on the proposal that would bring tolls to the Mount Hope Bridge for the first time since 1998. The fees to cross the bridge — if the General Assembly …
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Monday, May 14, 2012
A forum at the Burnside Building tonight at 7 addresses concerns over proposed fees for the Mount Hope and Sakonnet River bridges.
Since 1998, Rhode Islaners — especially those on the East Bay — have had the option to get onto Aquidneck Island without paying the tolls the Newport Bridge charges. The free ride could soon be coming to an end and crossing onto and off the island may soon cost drivers money regardless of the route they take. The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority hopes so. The authority — which already approved raising rates on the Newport Pell Bridge — has proposed adding fees to the Mount Hope and Sakonnet River bridges. The tolls would range from 52 cents to $3.25 each way. The Newport bridge is scheduled to increase from $4 to $5 for cash-paying drivers. Those using an E-Z pass pay less than $1. Residents have voiced strong opposition to the …
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Stanley Martin
8:49 am on Friday, April 5, 2013
Fred your in the minority. That's why your voice isn't being heard... more ›