| 2/12/2013 |
East Bay representatives seek federal hearings on toll
STATE HOUSE – Four East Bay representatives are seeking federal hearings on state plans to institute tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge.
Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth), Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth), Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton) and Rep. Linda Finn (D-Dist. 72, Middletown, Portsmouth) sent a letter today to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood seeking hearings by the Federal Highway Administration on the plan for tolls.
“Public hearings were previously conducted by [the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority] concerning the proposed tolls. However, it is our belief that the Federal Highway Administration should undertake its own hearings with citizens and business people from the area to learn firsthand the negative impacts and burdens tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge will present to these individuals,” the representatives wrote in their request.
“We understand that the hearings conducted by RIDOT and RITBA are a part of their application, but we firmly believe that separate hearings by the Federal highway Administration are necessary and appropriate,” the letter continued.
The RIDOT has applied to the Federal Highway Administration for permission to institute tolls of an unspecified rate on the bridge, which connects Tiverton and Portsmouth over the Sakonnet River.
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The text of the letter is below:
Ray LaHood
Secretary of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E.
Washington DC 20590
Feb. 12, 2013
Dear Secretary LaHood:
We are writing concerning the authorization request made to the Federal Highway Administration by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority to institute tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge. The Sakonnet River Bridge connects the towns of Tiverton and Portsmouth, and is a part of Rhode Island Route 24. Construction funding for that Bridge was through GARVEE bonds.
Public hearings were previously conducted by RIDOT and RITBA concerning the proposed tolls. However, it is our belief that the Federal Highway Administration should undertake its own hearings with citizens and business people from the area to learn firsthand the negative impacts and burdens tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge will present to these individuals.
We understand that the hearings conducted by RIDOT and RITBA are a part of their application, but we firmly believe that separate hearings by the Federal Highway Administration are necessary and appropriate.
Thank you for your consideration to our request.
Raymond E. Gallison, Jr. John Edwards
Representative-District 69 Representative -District 70
Dennis Canario Linda Finn
Representative-District 71 Representative-District 72
cc: Senator Jack Reed
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Congressman David Cicilline
Governor Lincoln D Chafee
Victor M. Mendez Director, FHWA
Daniel Berman, Acting Division Administrator, FHWA
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2457 |
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