TOLL EQUIPMENT REMOVED, RITBA LOOKS TO REUSE AND/OR SELL IT

Hopefully, the removal of the toll-equipment is the final chapter in this long-running comedy of errors.

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20140624-ri-bridge-authority-looks-to-reuse-sell-sakonnet-toll-equipment.ece

SAKONNET TOLL EQUIPMENT SHUT DOWN FOR GOOD

It feels good to again be able to cross the Sakonnet River Bridge without that rising sense of anger and frustration about the toll.

http://www.heraldnews.com/article/20140619/NEWS/140615387

PROJO: "CHAFEE ORDERS TOLLS TO END ON SAKONNET BRIDGE BY NOON FRIDAY"

This glorious headline has been the goal during the frustrating two-year battle against Sakonnet tolls. Despite widespread opposition to tolls by East Bay businesses, citizens, and elected officials, and the countless reasons they's be destructive and unfair and self-defeating financially, it took a prolonged, unified effort by individuals and groups of all political persuasions to bring about the right result. 

And that should be the lesson of this drama: OUR government WILL serve US when people are active, informed and united. And a good idea will be enacted, or a bad one reversed, if a majority wants it so and is determined to make it happen.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

http://www.providencejournal.com/news/government/20140619-chafee-orders-tolls-to-end-on-sakonnet-bridge-by-noon-friday.ece

IT'S OFFICIAL! GOVERNOR SIGNS BUDGET, & SAKONNET TOLLS ARE HISTORY!

AND RI HAS A TRANSPORTATION-FUNDING PROGRAM AS WELL! (link below)


Congratulations and thanks to all who played a part in bringing this very bad idea to an end. This includes the citizen groups and individuals who doggedly fought this fight, and our local Reps & Senators who made sure our voices were heard by State leadership. 

Special thanks Rep Jay Edwards, Sen Chris Ottiano, & Sen Lou DiPalma for crafting the transportation-funding bill that made this result possible, and brought some good out of a bad situation.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20140619-chafee-signs-8.7-billion-budget-into-law.ece

SENATE PASSES BUDGET, GOVERNOR SAYS HE'LL SIGN IT

Sakonnet tolls are about to be eliminated. As expected, the Senate passed the budget, and Governor Chafee issued a statement saying he'll sign it (link below). After the last-minute changes a year ago, it may be best to wait until the budget is actually signed to declare victory. But this long, hard-fought effort against a very bad idea, a destructive and unfair toll, appears to be over. 

Thanks to all the citizens, groups and especially our local Reps and Senators for their unfailing effort to right this wrong.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

http://www.providencejournal.com/politics/content/20140616-r.i.-senate-approves-new-8.7-billion-state-budget.ece

SENATE VOTES TONIGHT ON BUDGET, INCLUDING SAKONNET TOLL ELIMINATION

Final Senate approval of the House's budget is expected to come tonight (see link). If Senate Finance and the full Senate pass the House's budget as expected, it heads to the Governor to be signed into law, vetoed (with a veto override likely), or to become law without any action by the Governor.

http://www.providencejournal.com/politics/content/20140616-ri-lawmakers-poised-for-final-budget-votes-final-week-of-2014-session.ece

BUDGET PASSES HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY

The Budget including the infrastructure-funding plan passed the House overwhelmingly (see link below). Now on to the Senate...

http://www.eastbayri.com/news/full-ri-house-passes-budget-plan-that-eliminates-bridge-tolls/

BUDGET PLAN WITH INFRASTRUCTURE-FUNDING & TOLL ELIMINATION HEADS FOR SENATE APPROVAL

With the House having overwhelmingly passed the budget, and the Senate poised to do the same, the years-long Sakonnet tolls saga seems to be nearing an end (link below). 

The fact that this toll-collection equipment was purchased and installed before the issue was resolved, and is now to become just a phenomenal waste of money, is the perfect metaphor for a bad idea that never should have gotten to this point. 

Hopefully this infrastructure-funding process proposed and brought to fruition through the dogged efforts of our East Bay Representatives & Senators is the start of a new approach at the State House, and the silver lining in a very dark cloud that's been hanging over the East Bay.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20140612-banning-tolls-on-sakonnet-river-bridge-raises-questions-about-what-happens-next.ece

STATE BUDGET INCLUDING SAKONNET TOLL REMOVAL & INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING HEADS TOWARDS PASSAGE

The House approved the proposed Budget 62-11 tonight, including the infrastructure funding / Sakonnet toll-elimination provisions. Now it goes to the Senate for approval, and if approved, to the Governor for his signature, veto, or no action (which would allow it to become law without his signature). (link below)

http://www.heraldnews.com/article/20140612/NEWS/140618137

PROJO: INFRASTRUCTURE-FUNDING / TOLL-ELIMINATION PROVISION IN BUDGET SEEMS TO BE POPULAR WITH HOUSE MEMBERS

The good news, according to this ProJo article (link below), is that the provision for infrastructure-funding that includes elimination of Sakonnet tolls seems to be popular among House members. 

The momentum seems to be behind getting this done, but it won't be time to celebrate until the budget containing the infrastructure-funding/toll-elimination provision passes into law.

Brian  Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20140610-r.i.-house-members-question-effect-of-budget-on-social-services-increased-marketing-budget-for-twin-river.ece

HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVES BUDGET PLAN THAT INCLUDES SAKONNET TOLL ELIMINATION

Last night's 14-2 vote in the House Finance Committee to approve the Budget plan, which includes the infrastructure-funding provision that eliminates Sakonnet Bridge tolls, is another positive step on the road to eliminating these destructive tolls. 

With both the House and Senate leadership on board, it would seem the last possible obstacle is Governor Chafee. Supporters of eliminating the toll are encouraged to call and email the Governor's office to express support for this provision in the Budget plan.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20140605-r.i.-house-finance-committee-quickly-oks-proposed-8.7-billion-state-budget.ece

RI BUDGET PLAN INCLUDES DETAILS OF INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING, SAKONNET-TOLL ELIMINATION

While not yet final, this is a huge step forward towards eliminating destructive Sakonnet tolls and setting up Statewide infrastructure funding. 

Great job by our East Bay Representatives and Senators in fighting this long battle, especially Rep. Jay Edwards, Sen. Chris Ottiano, and Sen. Lou DiPalma for their work on the infrastructure-funding plan.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20140605-legislators-state-budget-plan-would-create-28-million-fund-to-pay-for-road-and-bridge-maintenance.ece

RITBA SPENT $5 MILLION ON SAKONNET TOLL OVERHEAD BEFORE TOLL-ELIMINATION EFFORTS PLAYED OUT

Anyone wondering why RI Turnpike & Bridge Authority was is such dire financial straits that they needed Sakonnet tolls to subsidize their operations need only consider this debacle (link below).

There were bills to eliminate the tolls in the General Assembly, a lawsuit that could have them declared illegal, and widespread opposition that made tolls unlikely to last. Yet RITBA chose to ignore all these cautions and spent $5 million on the hope it'd work out. 

Even if RITBA had their planned tolls, little of the money would go to Sakonnet maintenance, and huge sums would go to overhead. And surely the economic damage in the East Bay, and lost State revenue, would outweigh whatever funds were raised. Did this really make sense to anyone?

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20140605-plan-nixes-sakonnet-toll-after-millions-spent.ece