Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo’s controversial Truck-Only Toll plan is barreling forward seemingly without any regard for the roar of voices trying to make their dissatisfaction heard. Instead, the RIDOT has released a map of where the proposed tolling would take place.
The tolls are supposed to pay for Rhode Island’s massively expensive 10 year transportation construction project which will cost an estimated $100 million per year. An earlier version of the toll plan was proposed and then quickly withdrawn when the public outcry was too great, but Gov. Raimondo has an amended plan in the works that will be ready “within a week or two” according to House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello.
While it does intend to repair the state’s deteriorating roads and bridges, the original proposal also plans to set aside money for “providing increased bus and rail service as well as funding for bike lanes and accessible sidewalks.”
When asked why a truck-only toll was being considered, Mattiello was surprisingly blunt: it would be paid for largely by out of state trucking companies instead of local residents.
“When you look at that and you consider that more than half of the tolling revenue is going to come from out-of-state truckers, it seems to me that we are going to get a lot of economic benefit and most of it will be paid by out of state trucking companies, rather than the entire burden being borne by Rhode island residents,” Mattiello said according to the Providence Journal. “In light of that analysis, I think it is something that we strongly have to consider moving forward on.”
The proposed toll locations are as follows:
- Route 95 over Mechanic Street in Hopkinton and Richmond
- Route 95 over Teft Hill Trail and Route 3 in Exter
- Route 95 over Toll Gate Road and Centerville Road in Warwick
- Route 95 over Oxford Street in Providence
- Route 95 over Route 6 and Amtrak in Providence
- Route 95 over East Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Pawtucket
- Route 295 over Water Supply Viaduct and Plainfield Pike in Cranston
- Route 295 over Hartford Pike (Route 6a). an abandoned ramp bridge and Route 6 North in Johnston
- Route 295 over Scott Road and Leigh Road in Cumberland
- Route 195 over the Seekonk in Providence and East Providence
- Route 146 over George Washington Highway in Lincoln
- Route 146 over Farnum Pike in North Smithfield
- Route 6 over the Woonasquatucket River in Providence
- Route 6 over the Route 10 Interchange in Providence
If you’re thinking that you’ll just be able to avoid the tolls by taking local roads however, you’re mistaken. According to Gov. Raimondo, the State Police will be taking action to “prevent large commercial trucks from exiting the highways to avoid user fees.”
Source: truckinginfo, overdrive, providencejournal, providencejournal, truckersreport, truckersreport
Image Source: depositphotos
Ricky says
Truckers need to come together an stop goin in that state. Then they’ll really b hollaring that’s what should have happened in California with there carb bs!!
Infosaur says
Again with these bike trails nobody uses?!?
Perhaps we’d be better served by charging admission to these trails?
If there was any sort of agreement between the brokers, trucking companies and shippers, I’d immediately implement a 300% hike in any freight going into or out of RI.
And if congress or the ATA had any gravitas, they’d immediately suspend federal road building funds to that state. (After all, isn’t 95 a FEDERAL interstate?)
And it’s not like RI is a vital link to anywhere. The entire state can be bypassed.
They won’t even make back the cost of the construction of the tolls. Let alone the new signage and lanes. Total boondoggle.
Matt says
Let’em figure that out all by themselves. The “residents” WILL be picking up the tab for the boondoggle part. That’s not covered under federal matching funds….
Mike Tyson says
If truckers don’t have to actually stop in RI. We should just avoid going through it.
Matt says
Ya gotta wonder in what world these fruitcakes even think that they’re even relevant???? There’s 50 different ways to get around every one of those sites and you can’t find a R.I.S.P. cop if you needed one, now they will be “hiding” to catch frugal truckers??? That’s actually funny. The twist is that the roads won’t deteriorate anymore because there won’t be any big, bad, evil trucks running in RI anymore (ha ha)(don’t blink, you’ll miss it). Good luck getting those groceries. Stop and Shop, Big Y and Walmart will be doing well in Ct and Ma, and RI will be loosing that sales tax revenue also. Next, the goofy governor will be explaining why the sales tax rate needs to be 14% (it’s the economy, stupid).
Andrew says
US-44 looks like a decent truck route that has no border toll, unless they get you on the loop.
Regardless as many stated, not exactly hard to go around, just grab the I-395 to Boston or surrounding areas. Won’t add much time and you’ll dodge Providence traffic anyway.
jreaper says
I wonder how places like this would feel if the trucks did they decide to take advantage of just stopped going into the area? How long would it take with no toilet paper, No vampire DVDs, and worst of all no alcohol to get them through those lonely nights before they would be begging for trucks to come back. I would love to see the entire state have to drive out of state just to wipe their butt.
Randolph kng says
Then all companies should boycott ri and see if they can function. I don’t agree with the toll that are in place now they wanna add more? Thank god I don’t go thru ri anymore.
Mike says
If the trucking industry was serious enough to ban all freight coming in and out of the state via truck local businesses, consumers and builders would have to demand that the state government reduce its overhead instead of taxing them with reduced revenues and increased cost of goods coming into and out of the state. This is what the state is doing after all. .
Mario says
they can borrow George Washington Bridge from Port Authority for a week and collect same revenue in a week. I would put it on 95 right before Providence so they keep same signs
JJ says
So is the pig of a toll going to work with EZ-Pass? I hope my company I work for charges them 4 times the cost, just so I don’t have to go to that pig state. I run the 48 states and major portions of Canada, however I live in northern VT and sometimes they get me home via a RI load, but not always, usually its thru western NY , Canada, or MA. Like other drivers have said here its the fruitcake state Governor and her cronies/ideas.
Robert says
It’s simple. Just add those idiots to the keep your cheap east coast freight and shove it list. Along with new York. U can’t remember the last time I went through road road road? Ya any way. Don’t haul there freight they’ll change there minds. Not a hard one to figure out.
Denadii says
No problem! Simply pass the increased expense to the consumer…Now everybody pays….Stupid politicians
Jeff Pearson says
Think of this.. Any statehighway.. Interstate are owned by all of America.. As in you and I.. Toll roads are privatly owned.. So how can somebody steal from you as in the state government and make you pay for it in tolls. That woyld be like stealing your car.. And making you pay a rental fee to use it..
Sandy says
Ya I agree boycott RI n send that idiot governor a rude awakening, once the people of RI figure out their picking up the tab for a toll road that trucks r boycotting bet she loses the next election lol. This is the dumbest idea I have ever heard of-ok one of the dumbest ideas. Any state that wants to implement a truck only toll needs to be boycotted, I mean to build bike trails and sidewalks-when is the last time you seem a truck on a sidewalk or bike trail
m says
I can get around all these locations, legally.
Dizzy says
Hike up the freight rate! Fight back! So tired of the BS.
Canadiangirl says
In regard to all the trucks actually oing to R.I this is just a round about way of taxing your citizens. This isnt gonna come out of a truckers or dispatchers paycheck. It will just be added riht ontop of freight charges to R.I and then the businesses there will add it right back onto products and pass it onto consumers.
So i guess this way people who dont consume shit dont have to pay tax.