Sakonnet Bridge Toll Rate Set, Collection To Begin In July

Tolls are expected to be in place on the Sakonnet River Bridge by July, said the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority chairman after the the board established toll rates this morning.

Drivers with a Rhode Island E-Z Pass transponder will pay 75 cents to cross the Sakonnet River. Drivers with out-of-state transponders will pay $3.75 per trip and travelers without an E-Z Pass transponder will be billed $5.25 per trip.

"For the first time we will be offering a discount for people driving back and forth more than once a day," said David Darlington, RITBA chairman in an interview after the RITBA meeting in Jamestown on Wednesday. 

For local drivers, regardless of the number of trips over the Sakonnet River Bridge in a single day, the maximum cost will be $1.50. For out-of-state drivers with transponders, it would cost $7.50.

This discount, will also be applied to drivers traveling over the Newport Pell Bridge.

"We heard public concerns over aspects of the tolls and these discounts mitigate those," said Darlington.

Another discount will allow out-of-state travelers to purchase an E-Z Pass in Rhode Island, allowing them to benefit from the discounted in-state rates.

The average commuter will benefit from the discounts while vacationers and infrequent travelers will pay more. 

Toll rates were set to reflect expected revenue losses from the discounts as well as make up for an estimated 20 percent diversion rate of travelers after tolls are implemented.

Darlington expects tolls to be in place by July, but added that weather and other factors could delay construction.

"We have vendors in place to take care of the issue and the steel has been ordered for the gantry installation." said Darlington.

East Bay legislators are still trying to block tolling on the Sakonnet River Bridge with several bills on the floor.

Sen. Louis P. DiPalma is spearheading legislation that would not only block tolling on the Sakonnet River Bridge, but also freeze toll rates on the Newport Pell Bridge.

Should efforts by local lawmakers prove successful, Darlington said construction materials can be returned - with restocking fees.

Darlington said the RITBA is moving forward with collecting tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge because it is the law currently and is the approved mechanism for the RITBA to collect the revenues needed to maintain Newport County's bridges.

"I feel the [tolls] are as fair as they can be and collect the revenues needed to maintain the structures," said Darlington.