John Coccio
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On the Blog Post Imagine No Toll on the Pell Bridge
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On the Blog Post Imagine No Toll on the Pell Bridge
John Coccio
1:25 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
Ummmm........NONE!!! Joe, you seem to forget that the Pell bridge is NOW as old as the OLD Jamestown bridge was when it closed. Yep, lasted a grand total of 43 yrs thanks to the DOT. Sakonnet???? 59 yrs. Was deemed structually deficient OVER A DECADE AGO!!! Again, thanks to the DOT. PAwtucket River Bridge.......lasted what???? 50 years??? Replaced. Providence Viaduct is 49 yrs old......It too is DONE!!! TRASH!!! All thanks to the DOT.
Pell bridge??? 43 yrs old and expected to last 100. Mt hope bridge is 84 yrs old and still going strong (although, at 2 lanes, I would say it is obsolete) ALL THANKS TO THE RIBTA..
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On the Blog Post Imagine No Toll on the Pell Bridge
John Coccio
12:55 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013
Guys, I think there are a couple of ideas that may work in lieu of tolls. First idea, which has been bantied around nationally, Would be to replace the gas tax with a mileage tax. I think if you dropped it to 5 cpg from the 33 cpg, and charged people say 1.5 cents per mile based on about 2/3 rds of the driving in state, you would make up revenue being lost by higher mileage cars. (NOTE!!!! In the next 12 yrs, the average fleet mileage will DOUBLE, thereby cutting the gas tax collected IN HALF) Next would be to dedicate more of that revenue to the DOT, as opposed to other depts.
Secondly, I think we need to stop borrowing money for road repairs. IIRC, almost HALF of the DOT's budget is eaten up by bond payments.
LAstly, as far as the states' obsolete and deficient bridges, we could embark on a program like Colorado does. Impose an extra fee on our registrations to pay for their replacement/refurbishment. Colorado identified over 200 bad bridges, instituted a fee structure, annd has currently replaced about half of them, WITHOUT incurring ANY debt for the future.
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On the article UPDATED: 27 Dead in Connecticut School Shooting
John Coccio
4:37 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012
BTW, update. The Ct ME says that ALL victimes were shot MULTIPLE TIMES with the assault rifle.
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On the article Barrington Man Dies In Crash on Mt. Hope Bridge
John Coccio
7:21 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
ReplyI'm sorry for you and his family's loss. I can assure you that he did not die alone. There were many good professionals that tried to help him, as well as some good samaritans that saw the accident. May he rest in peace.
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On the article UPDATED: Police Close Mt. Hope Bridge After Fatal Crash
John Coccio
12:46 pm on Sunday, December 2, 2012
Rest assured, I was there. And while I can't comment as to the specifics, the accident was NOT reckless driving, was NOT directly preventable, and WAS a tragedy.
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On the article Police Close Mt. Hope Bridge After Fatal Crash
John Coccio
10:53 am on Sunday, December 2, 2012
Surprise!!!! You are wrong. Occoured on the SOUTH side of the bridge.
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On the Blog Post Signatures Wanted To Stop Sakonnet Bridge Toll
John Coccio
3:32 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
ReplyI've got the perfect solution........leave the old bridge up ( we save on demolition costs). Anybody using the old bridge passes for free, just pass at your own risk.
See which one gets used more ;)
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On the Blog Post Signatures Wanted To Stop Sakonnet Bridge Toll
John Coccio
8:44 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
ReplyJeannie,
Are any of these petitions being brought to Bristol for signatures? We believe that this negatively impacts us too, as traffic will self divert over the Mt Hope bridge for the free pass.
Then, I can only imagine how much the state will want from us to pay to rebuild rt 136 from the Warren line to Portsmouth, INCLUDING the Mt Hope bridge, as they will see that this route is now "woefully obsolete" to handle the traffic.
Big surprise there.
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On the article Letter: Working to Be Part of Solution
John Coccio
7:11 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
ReplyChris, Thank you for a great first term. Every time I e-mailed you, the respose was timely and informative. There was none of that " Thank you for being a good and involved citizen" nonsense, just an real answer to a real question. Good luck next year. I look forward to conversing some more and meeting you!!!!
John Coccio
2:29 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
Dan, curently RIBTA is charged with both the Pell and Mt.Hope bridges. According to the Director, they are on a 100 yr life cycle. They at least take the toll revenues and inspect and fix the bridges. Joe, because funds are diverted, as well as the fact that half their budget goes to paying off bonds, they don't inspect or repair until it's too late. Having said that, I want to eliminate ALL the tolls. There is no need for them.