Eastbayri.com

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) board of directors voted Wednesday to hike toll rates for the Newport Pell Bridge and to ask the Rhode Island General Assembly to allow RITBA to bring tolls back to the Mount Hope Bridge. 

The board also voted to rescind the toll changes on the Pell Bridge, which are effective July 1, should the Rhode Island General Assembly pass legislation in this session that would provide RITBA with “an alternative and sufficient source of revenue.” 

Last month, the board had tabled a vote on a toll increase at the request of R.I. Department of Transportation Director Michael Lewis, who is a voting RITBA board member.  Since that January 18 meeting, the Governor has announced his support for legislation to transfer the ownership of the Sakonnet River Bridge and the Jamestown Verrazano Bridge to RITBA and to toll the former.  The plan also includes the possibility of tolling I-95 at exit 3.

“The two bridges in our care require significant repair and maintenance work to ensure that they remain safe,” said David Darlington, chairman of the board.  “We believe it’s important to allow drivers impacted by the new rates a sufficient amount of time to plan their budgets for the new toll structure.   Should the Turnpike and Bridge Authority be mandated to add tolls to other properties and that toll revenue suffices for all the assets in our care, then the tolls on the Newport Pell Bridge will automatically remain at their current levels.”

The rates that were approved by the board are $1 per crossing for residents with a RI E-ZPass and $5 per crossing for cash and undiscounted E-ZPass. The added revenue will help pay for the $250 million needed to fund RITBA’s capital projects in the 10-year Renewal and Replacement Plan. 

In October, RITBA held four meetings on Aquidneck Island, gathering opinions from businesses and residents about the feasibility of reinstituting tolls on the Mount Hope Bridge and increasing toll rates on the Newport Pell Bridge. 

Residents attending the hearings in Portsmouth and Bristol protested talk of bringing tolls back to the Mount Hope Bridge saying that it would harm the county economy, impact commuters and local travelers, and divide families and businesses from their customers.