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? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The CEO of Newport Grand Slots weighs in on the bridge toll proposal.
Plans to place bridge tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge could end up in a huge loss in gambling revenue for the state, says the Newport Grand slot parlor's chief executive officer. Newport Grand CEO Diane Hurley told The Newport Daily News that bridge tolls would cost the state a maximum of $16 million in gambling revenue. Bridge tolls could be in place as early as this summer, according to The Providence Journal. Do you agree with Hurley? Tell us in the comment section below! Local and state politicians have been fighting plans to place tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge. The Department of Transportation (DOT) held public hearings in Tiverton and Portsmouth last month. Residents are asked to submit their opinion on tolls to …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
With the opening of the new Sakonnet River Bridge and the impending tolls, Rep. John J. Edwards requested RIPTA restore services to Tiverton.
Rep. John J. Edwards (D – Dist. 70) wrote a letter to Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) requesting the restoration of bus service to the Tiverton area now that the Sakonnet River Bridge is fully operational. “My constituents need access to public transportation, as any other city or town in Rhode Island,” the representative wrote to the RIPTA chairman and Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian this week. “We have been paying and continue to pay our share of the gas tax through which [RIPTA] is funded. We expect our fair share of access to public transportation as afforded elsewhere.” Edwards recognizes that Tiverton is one of a handful of towns in Rhode Island without a RIPTA bus line. Restoration of public transportation in town could …
Friday, September 28, 2012
Dozens met at Town Hall for the Tiverton STOP launch meeting on Thursday night
More than four dozen residents, legislators and town officials representing all sides of the political spectrum turned out for the Tiverton STOP launch meeting on Thursday night. Political affiliations aside, Tiverton residents can agree on one thing: stop tolling on the Sakonnet River Bridge. "This is a nonpartisan effort," said Jay Lambert, Town Council president. "There are no partisan issues that I'm aware of. These are issues of fairness and economic reality, but those issues are not Democratic, they are not Republican they are not independent." Mediated by Lambert, the meeting was an organizational kickoff meeting for Tiverton residents to meet, sign up to volunteer and to establish leadership plans for each of the group's 10 …
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Tiverton STOP, a grassroots citizen-based group opposed to tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge, will hold is launch meeting on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Tiverton Town Hall.
Tiverton residents are organizing against the tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge. In a grassroots approach, citizens will gather for the Tiverton STOP - otherwise known as the Tiverton Sakonnet Toll Opposition Platform - launch meeting on Thursday, Sept. 27 to discuss strategies to fight the imposition of tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge. "The goal is to not have tolls," said Joy Gilkeson, a Tiverton resident who is chairing the committee along with Chee Laureano, also a resident. "We will not settle for $2 or 50 cents," continued Gilkeson. "We do not want tolls period. It will devastate us and cut Tiverton and little Compton off from the rest of the state." Gilkeson invited every Tiverton and Sakonnet-area resident who would be affected…
41.624607
-71.207474
Tiverton Town Hall
343 Highland Rd, Tiverton, RI
/articles/tiverton-residents-rally-to-stop-tolls
1722638
/locations/7901866
Monday, September 24, 2012
The Sakonnet River Bridge will open both of its lanes to traffic later this week.
The Sakonnet River Bridge will officially open its northbound and southbound lanes to traffic this Thursday, reports The Providence Journal. According to Charles St. Martin, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, the opening could happen as early as Wednesday, or later in the week in case of inclement weather. "It's paving and striping that we have left, so if it rains we can't do that," said St. Martin. The bridge's Route 24 northbound traffic first opened to traffic last week on Sept. 20 without an official ceremony. On Monday, Gov. Lincoln Chafee visited and toured the new infrastructure. Once all traffic has been shifted to the new bridge, work will continue on approach roads on both sides of the span. Demolition of …
Gov. Lincoln Chafee and state Department of Transportation Director Michael P. Lewis toured the new Sakonnet River Bridge with members of the media on Monday morning.
State officials were reluctant on during a project tour on Monday to pin down a price, location or even to confirm if tolls would be eventually be installed on the new Sakonnet River Bridge. What is clear is that the state must increase revenues to the state Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) by $4.3 million annually to cover existing debt service and by millions more to cover the maintenance and operations costs of the two new bridges brought under the authority's control. RITBA Director Buddy Croft did not return calls to Patch by press time on Monday and the state Department of Transportation (DOT) did not have the figures available. "There will be a public process with multiple hearings to tell how we feel," said Gov. Lincoln Chafee…
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tiverton resident Roger A. Bennis weighs in on the fight against imposing tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge.
- OPINION
-
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 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 …
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Protesters were seen Wednesday evening in Portsmouth.
If it hasn't already, proposed bridge tolls become an election issue for a couple of protesters Wednesday evening. About three protesters held up Mitt Romney campaign signs, as well as signs reading "No Tolls on Bridge," at the corner of East Main Road and Turnpike Avenue in Portsmouth on Wednesday evening. This is the second time in recent weeks protesters have rallied at the corner. Protesters plan to rally again tomorrow in Portsmouth at Clement's Marketplace during a taping of WPRO's the Buddy Cianci show, according to the protest's organizer, Janine Smith, of Tiverton. This small rally also follows petitions circulating throughout Aquidneck Island and Tiverton to protest plans for tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge. RITBA voted…
41.60004
-71.25022
2575 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI
/articles/photo-will-bridge-tolls-becomes-an-election-issue-55c5d06c
/locations/7591454
Joe Sousa.
1:58 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
We need to pack the hearing room at the State house when this Bill is heard. If we don't have hundreds waiting to testify the Toll is going to happen. We have to show that the State will lose more than it will gain with a Toll. We may need a bus to transport people there. Any suggestions ? more ›