RhodeWorks gets go-ahead from federal government
By News Staff
news@abc6.com
The Federal Government is in agreement with RhodeWorks legislation that will put tolls on trucks at 13 locations across Rhode Island. The money from the tolls at these 13 locations will be used to reconstruct or replace 34 bridges throughout the state.
The announcement comes Wednesday from the RI Department of Transportation after it executed 13 Memorandas of Understanding with the Federal Highway Administration on those 13 locations.
The MOUs state that the federal government "hereby agrees the Toll Project meets the toll eligibility requirements of 23 U.S.C. 129 (a) (1)," the applicable federal law. Bridges being tolled include those both on Interstate highways and state roads. RIDOT will now proceed to solicit proposals from qualified firms to design, build, operate and maintain the tolling system.
"The inadequacy of infrastructure funding is a problem that has plagued Rhode Island for decades," said RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, Jr. "I am delighted that the federal government has agreed to partner with us and participate in this program to help fund the reconstruction of our crumbling bridges."
A 14th MOU for the Providence Viaduct will be executed once the bridge project meets the existing environmental mitigation requirements.
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