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…
Monday, December 3, 2012
A major vehicle crash shut down the Sakonnet River Bridge on Monday morning. The bridge has since been re-opened.
The following story was updated Monday at 5:32 p.m. Three police cruisers were struck during a multi-vehicle crash Monday morning on the Sakonnet River Bridge. This is the second major vehicle crash to occur on a Portsmouth bridge in the past three days. On Saturday night, a Barrington man was killed and five other people were injured after a head-on collision on the Mt. Hope Bridge. No injuries were reported in the crash on Monday. According to The Providence Journal, the Sakonnet River Bridge was shut down for more than two hours Monday morning after a dump truck carrying rocks sideswiped a vehicle and struck a police cruiser. The truck was passing a minor two-vehicle crash at the time. The bridge has since been re-opened. …
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, November 27, 2012
John Carlevale from State of the State will be re-broadcasting the panel show discussing tolls on the Sakonnet Bridge through Nov. 29.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Portsmouth Town Council President, Joseph Robicheau, blogs about his views on tolling the Sakonnet River Bridge.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tiverton resident Roger A. Bennis weighs in on the fight against imposing tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge.
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Tuesday, August 28, 2012
To the Editor: After DOT Director Michael P. Lewis indicated on March 26 that he wanted to solve the incompetent management ofthe DOT that allows RI roads and bridges to fall apart by doubling a part of the taxation of Newport County residents and workers, I wrote a Letter to the Editor exposing his plan as “The Double Taxing of Newport County Residents andWorkers”. Since then, the Governor has jumped on board the proposal because he sees it as a means of raising additional revenue. Of course the Governor has recognized the Sakonnet Bridge Toll concept as double taxing Newport County residents and taxpayers, as well as visitors. However, the DOT Director and the Governor are not honest enough to admit that this is double taxation of …
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 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 owners…
Gov. Lincoln Chafee visited Portsmouth Town Hall on Thursday.
Gov. Lincoln Chafee visited Portsmouth Town Hall on Thursday to discuss "fiscal responsibility." He was met by a dozen bridge toll protesters outside, while more than 100 residents and politicians waited inside Town Hall. Featured here is a report of the meeting. 8:45 a.m. — Gov. Lincoln Chafee arrives. Audience member yells, "Don't shake his hand. He's selling us out." Town Council President Joe Robicheau gives introductions. Chafee gives opening remarks. The governor says, "for the first time in 20 years," voters will not see a transportation bond on the election ballot. 8:49 — Tiverton business owner asking questions to Chafee at the moment. "Why do Aquidneck Island residents have to pay," owner asks. Michael Lewis, director of the …
Monday, August 13, 2012
Friday's rally against the Sakonnet River Bridge Tolls brought out hundreds of residents and a handful of Rhode Island candidates in this election year.
Friday's rally proved that the Sakonnet River Bridge toll would definitely be an election issue for Newport County voters - if not for voters statewide. Scattered among the demonstrators on East Main Road in front of Clement's Marketplace on Friday in Portsmouth were town council members, state General Assembly candidates, and even a U.S. Senate hopeful. "Obviously this is a win-win situation fighting against the tolls because there is no reason not to, we have everything to lose," said Dennis Canario, a Democrat from Portsmouth seeking the Dist. 71 seat to represent Portsmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton. "It is about the tolls," agreed Joseph Sousa, who is running for Tiverton Town Council. "But for those of us who have lived here …
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Residents from Portsmouth and nearby communities turned out Friday afternoon to protest proposed bridge tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge.
More than 100 demonstrators took advantage of a talk show host and Rhode Island celebrity's visit to Portsmouth Friday to protest what is being called an "unfair tax." Demonstrators from Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton and elsewhere braved the rain and stood along the busy East Main Road to protest bridge tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge. The rally was held during Friday's taping of the WPRO's Buddy Cianci Show at Clements' Marketplace in Portsmouth. The taping was held to honor Rhode Island Day, an annual event held to promote products made only in the Ocean State. However, former Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci couldn't ignore the controversial toll issue and spoke with several state and local politicians about the heated …
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2575 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI
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