Rep. Canario Urges Toll Opponents to Testify on Bills

Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton) is urging residents to testify before the House Committee on Finance later this month on bills that would derail plans to institute tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge.

The bridge spans Portsmouth and Tiverton; however, many residents in area communities, including Bristol, Middletown and Newport, have expressed concern about the plan. 

Two bills dealing with bridge tolls are scheduled for a hearing, 2013-H 5137, which is co-sponsored by Representative Canario, and 2013-H 5644. Both would repeal the transfer of authority for the Sakonnet River Bridge and the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge from the Department of Transportation to the RI Bridge and Turnpike Authority.

The bills are scheduled for a Finance Committee hearing at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, in Room 35 of the State House.

“There are people in my district who are throwing up their hands, shrugging their shoulders and saying that instituting tolls on the bridge is a done deal,” said Representative Canario.

“I want them to know that it is absolutely not a done deal and that passage of this legislation will ensure that. It is important that the people who oppose the tolls turn out for this hearing and let their voices be heard.”

Rep. Canario said he is joining his Portsmouth House delegation colleagues – Rep. Linda Finn (D-Dist. 75), Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70) and Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. (D-Dist. 69) – in urging residents to also attend a rally at the State House at noon on April 25, before the bills are heard in committee.

Rep. Canario called the imposition of tolls on the Sakonnet Bridge “absolutely devastating.”

He said that placing a toll on the bridge would be harmful to the small businesses on Aquidneck Island that rely on customers from the other side of the bridge, as well as for those elderly patients who receive medical care in Fall River.

“There may be residents of other parts of the state who are not aware of the impact of these tolls because they believe this will affect only one part of the state. But that is not true,” he said. “The economic impact of this could be statewide, if tolls have a significant impact on the economy of Aquidneck Island. A loss of sale tax revenue in this part of the state will affect the state budget.”

 The tolls, said Rep. Canario, are not designated solely for maintenance for the new bridge but to help maintain other bridges in the state, as well. “We’re being used as a cash cow by the Turnpike and Bridge Authority. The tolls will rob us in this part of the state to help solve other RITBA financial problems. That’s why it is necessary to get as many voices as possible to attend the rally and Finance Committee hearing to oppose the toll plan,” he said.

The bills being heard in the Finance Committee would repeal Article 20 of the Fiscal Year 2013 state budget, preventing the DOT from turning over control of the bridge to the Turnpike and Bridge Authority. Article 20 of that state budget additionally gives the RITBA the right to implement a toll on the Sakonnet Bridge, which connects the towns ofPortsmouth and Tiverton, and allowing the RITBA absolute control over the funds collected from those tolls.

The House bills were introduced by Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth) and Rep. Charlene M. Lima (D-Dist. 14, Cranston, Providence).

An identical Senate bill, 2013-S 0020, was introduced in that chamber by Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton).

What do you think about these bills? Tell us in the comment section below!