RI Truckers Association Releases No-Toll Plan

Thursday, October 29, 2015

GoLocalProv News Team

Rhode Island Trucking Association president Christopher Maxwell has unveiled a plan to fix Rhode Island's roads and bridges. The plan does not involve tolling or the costly infrastructure of constructing tolling gantries.

The association has also asked Gina Raimondo to release specific tolling locations being proposed so business owners can fully understand the impact of their operations.

“We have always stated we want to be part of the solution, but tolls are not the answer. Our plan creates a revenue stream over the next four years totaling just over $220 million dollars which happens to be the exact number being floated in RhodeWorks to repair 453 bridges outside of the 6/10 connector. After year four the plan will produce a yearly revenue stream of $25.9 million. This revenue stream could be bonded by the RIDOT to address the 6/10 connector or the entire package could be bonded to address all of the projects that RhodeWorks envisions. And our plan starts immediately without expending $43 million on gantries that will not begin to be constructed until 2018," said Maxwell.

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The Plan

RITA's plan to improve roads is as follows:

Increase the diesel tax by 18 cents – produces $10.8 million annually. Current diesel tax is .34 cents. Connecticut’s gas tax is .55 cents.
Increase Truck registration fee by $500 per year – will produce 1.6 million annually. Rhode Island currently has the lowest truck registration fee in New England.
Ask the state to rescind tax credits currently being proposed –reverts funds back to original purpose of bridge and road maintenance $13.5 million annually.
Refinance GARVEE bonds will produce $121 million in first four years – also currently proposed in RhodeWorks.

“Our plan brings a predictable revenue stream to address Rhode Island’s deteriorating roads and bridges without the uncertainty and risk contained in the RhodeWorks proposal. There are certain traffic assumptions contained in the RhodeWorks proposal that we believe are not accurate and will greatly affect projected revenue streams. The governor has already admitted that if revenue projections do not pan out her only recourse would be to increase the tolls on the trucking industry. Our plan also guarantees cars will never be tolled by future administrations because the infrastructure will never be constructed," added Maxwell.

RITA

The Rhode Island Trucking Association has over 500 members and 10,000 employees.

RITA has represented and promoted all motor carrier interests on a state level since 1931 and has been a member of the American Trucking Association since 1944.

Related Slideshow: RI’s Most Dangerous Bridges

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association recently released a list of the most traveled, deficient bridges in each state. In Rhode Island, those bridges were: