RI Loses $13.5M Due to Toll Delay, Says RITBA Chairman

Updated at 12:28 p.m. 

The state of Rhode Island will stand to lose millions in bridge maintenance funds due to the toll delay on the new Sakonnet River Bridge, reports the Projo.com. 

Citing David Darlington, chairman of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, Darlington tells Projo.com. the delay will cost the state $13.5 million in a period of nine months. 

The General Assembly recently approved new legislation to impose a 10-cent toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge. The 10-cent toll, less than the cost of mail postage, is expected to begin next month. 

According to the Projo.com article, Darlington says the state will only now collect about $1.5 million, a difference of $12 million. 

“First of all, we're not complaining about that,” Darlington said Thursday. “I was asked a question about how much would be taken under that time and I gave an answer.

“It's roughly $18 million in toll revenue in a year's time, $1.5 million per month. Between July of this year and April 1, that's the amount ($13.5 million) we would have collected. We're not concerned about that. We were just asked a question.”  

The original toll plan called for a .75 toll for Rhode Islanders with an EZ-Pass, $3.75 for those with an out-of-state E-ZPass and $5.25 for those without an E-ZPass. 

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