Agency approves toll hike on Pell Bridge
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Pell Bridge Toll Hike
Tolls to and from Newport over the Pell Bridge are doubling.
NBC 10
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority voted on Wednesday to increase the cash toll for cars on the Claiborne Pell Bridge from $2 to $4.
Published: August 12, 2009
Updated: August 12, 2009
JAMESTOWN, R.I.—Commuters to and from Newport will have to pay extra starting next month.
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority voted 3-1 on Wednesday to increase the cash toll for cars on the Claiborne Pell Bridge from $2 to $4, said chairman David Darlington. The toll for trucks and commercial will double to $2 per axle.
It is the first toll increase since the bridge opened 40 years ago. It goes into effect Sept. 8.
Rhode Island E-Z Pass users will still have to pay only 83 cents. But E-Z Pass users from out of state will pay $4.
The authority, a quasi-public agency, says the increase is expected to bring in an additional $5.5 million a year and will pay for long-term maintenance of the Pell and Mount Hope bridges.
“We clearly do not want to be the first board in 40 years to increase the rates, but we did not see any (other) option,“ Darlington said. “We’ve been trying to cut, cut, cut, cut our way through it, but it became clear that it was inevitable.“
Darlington said the approval of the toll hike was not surprising, given the lack of opposition voiced at public hearings over the past year and a half.
The authority also agreed to study adding tolls on the Mount Hope Bridge, which connects Bristol to Portsmouth. Tolls there were removed in 1998.
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Reader Reactions
Overthehill, JOIN THE CLUB !!!!!
I, for one, will not be crossing the bridge for $8.00 (both ways) to Newport to shop, dine, etc. I’ve given enough to this lousy state, no more!!
I am tired of politicians without ethics. I am tired of people with vested interests voting the way of those interests instead of good business. I am tired of paying for people who dont want to work. Even if it is picking up litter for the state. I am tired of political correctness. I am tired of politicians trying to take care of those who spend beyond their means and dont take of themselves on the backs of those who do. I am tired of politicans taxing those poeple who make things happen to support those who dont, to point to where those who do dont want to anymore. I am tired of listening to politicians who dont have the balls to hold town meetings. Reed, and others like him are afraid. They cant answer questions. Hold them personally liable for their campaign promises.
This state is so bad for business that the only reason people are still here is that it is a pretty good place to be if you can afford to live well.
Its not crowded. you can be a big fish in a small pond, it is kind of neat, to “know” everyone.
We have thousands of foreclosed homes, yet we are building more affordable housing. We have homeless people living in tents. Give them a choice. We cant take of these vacant places for spit, fix them up, put the homeless in them. They have to work to stay if they dont have real jobs. They can do community service 40 hours a week, they can be trained to do something. But they have to participate.
Illegal aliens, they broke the law. Give them a choice, return, work camps doing community service for 2 years, or the military, or something. Breaking the law has consequences. They cant be allowed to flout the law and we should not change it all better.
I am just tired….I feel abused by my own government State and Federal
Overthehill—I’d be careful in what you wish for—getting kissed costs even more.
tired—it isn’t only Rhode Islanders that are hurting—its everybody. BUT—guaranteed now that Rhode Islanders will soon be next! I’m reconfiguring my routes so I don’t have to cross that bridge, and since I’m in Fall River, its not that much more in mileage to go through Providence to get where I want to go. I personally know of two, possibly three more businesses that are doing the same thing.
They’re going to get less traffic over that bridge, so their maintenance costs will go down. Oh, wait—the maintenance won’t go down much, unless you stop the salt air corrosion too. Looks like the bridge authority will be going after Rhode Islanders next.
The Providence Business Journal talked about traffic congestion. Well this will solve the problem. I for one am not helping our political hacks solve there problem. We used to go for dinner,etc. We are not going. First they get rid of the tokens, so they can get rid of many of the over paid toll takers. There s nothing wrong with efficency and automation. Then they raise the rates to compensate for them taking the money to pay for other items. Just like the lottery money raised “just for education” and the over taxing for 911 on the phone bills. I am tired of getting screwed and not kissed.
Problem is they do this when Rhode Islanders are already hurting.
JoJo, if you live in Mass why are you crosssing the Pell Bridge to get to Newport. Would think you would go through the East Bay over Hope bridge. Anyway, there are better restaurants in Providence that are not just made for the tourists.
Is anyone surprised that a Government agency wants to increase a fee….Taxes and fees the RI way
Unbelievable. Looks like no more visits for dinner or entertainment in Newport for me and my husband. As a Mass resident with a transponder, I am not willing to add $8 to my “night” out just to cross the bridge. I wonder how your local business will feel about the lost business because of your greediness.
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