State officials propose new toll on trucks to fix bridges
By The Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ State officials are proposing a toll on commercial vehicles and a $700 million revenue bond to pay for repairs to Rhode Island’s deteriorating bridges.
The proposals are part of a $4.8 billion infrastructure plan, called RhodeWorks, announced Wednesday. The governor and leaders of both legislative chambers support it.
Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti says the upfront bond will shorten the time it takes to repair bridges.
He says 22 percent of the state’s roughly 1,160 bridges are structurally deficient.
Alviti says under the proposal large commercial vehicles will be charged a fee to use the state’s bridges. The fees are expected to generate $100 million annually to pay for the bond.
The amount of the fees hasn’t been determined but they will be similar to fees in other Northeast states.
(C) The Associated Press 2015
