Commission To Discuss East Bay Bridges Thursday

The Special Legislative Commission to Study the Funding for East Bay Bridges will hold its first meeting of the year Thursday at 4 p.m. in Room 35 of the State House.

The agenda includes a review of commission legislation and a presentation by the House and Senate fiscal staffs, which will include a recap of recent studies on the state of Rhode Island’s infrastructure and funding, current initiatives and economic impact considerations.

Capitol TV will broadcast the meeting live on Channel 15 for Cox Communications and Full Channel, as well as Channel 34 for Verizon.

Rep. Helio Melo (D-Dist. 64, East Providence) and Sen. Daniel Da Ponte (D-Dist. 14, East Providence), who also serve as the chairmen of the House and Senate finance committees, co-chair the commission. Senate members of the commission also include Senators Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12,Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) and Christopher S. Ottiano (R-Dist.11, Portsmouth,Bristol). 

House members include Representatives John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Portsmouth, Tiverton) and Antonio Giarrusso (R-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich).

The three remaining members of the special legislative commission are Department of Transportation Director Michael Lewis, or a designee; Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) Executive Director Buddy Croft, or a designee; and Department of Administration Director Richard Licht, or a designee.

Last year, the General Assembly approved a provision in the budget transferring the ownership of the Sakonnet River Bridge, which connects Tiverton and Portsmouth, to RITBA, which placed a toll on the bridge. 

Since then, a majority of the East Bay delegation and members of their communities have been vying for an equitable alternative to the tolls in order to maintain the area’s infrastructure and protect Aquidneck Island businesses.