Tiverton Residents Rally to 'STOP' Tolls

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 by a toll on the new bridge to come out for Thursday's meeting. She said numbers would be important in swaying the opinion of the state against tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge.

"Basically we are looking for ideas, collecting feedback and ideas on Thursday," said Gilkeson.

Tiverton Town Council President Jay Lambert said the group is a local component of a regional effort to halt tolling initiatives on Route 24.

"A number of committees have activated related to opposition of tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge - including a number of committees in the East Bay communities," said Lambert at Monday night's Town Council meeting. "As  I stated at the last meeting, we would have an initial meeting to represent, for most part, the Tiverton community."

Tiverton STOP will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27 at the Town Hall, 343 Highland Road in Tiverton. For more information email TivertonSTOP@gmail.com.