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ARTICLE 8 |
RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION
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SECTION 1. Section 31-25-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-25 entitled "Size, |
Weight, and Load Limits" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
31-25-21. Power to permit excess size or weight of loads. [Effective January 1, 2019.] |
(a) The department of transportation, with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, may, |
in its discretion, upon application in writing and good cause being shown for it, approve the |
issuance of a special permit in writing by the division of motor vehicles authorizing the applicant |
to operate or move a vehicle, or combination of vehicles, of a size or weight of vehicle or load |
exceeding eighty thousand pounds (80,000 lbs.) or otherwise not in conformity with the provisions |
of chapters 1 -- 27 of this title upon any highway under the jurisdiction of the party granting the |
permit and for the maintenance of which the party is responsible. Permits that have been issued for |
a full year shall not be required to be renewed for the period of time for which payment has been |
made and the application and other required documentation has been completed and filed. Provided, |
that neither the department of transportation nor the local authorities may approve the issuance of |
permits for divisible loads weighing in excess of one hundred four thousand-eight hundred pounds |
(104,800 lbs.), gross vehicle weight, for five-axle (5) vehicles and seventy-six thousand six hundred |
fifty pounds (76,650 lbs.), gross vehicle weight, for three-axle (3) vehicles. |
(1) Provided, however, that for milk products, any vehicle carrying fluid milk products |
shall be considered a load that cannot be easily dismantled or divided. |
(b) The director of the department of transportation may enter into agreements with other |
states, the District of Columbia, and Canadian provinces providing for the reciprocal enforcement |
of the overweight or over-dimensional vehicle permit laws of those jurisdictions entering into the |
agreement. |
(c) Trip permit fee. A fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) forty dollars ($40.00) shall be paid to |
the division of motor vehicles for the issuance of each non-reducible vehicle or load permit.; |
provided, however, applicants seeking a permit for a non-divisible load exceeding one hundred |
thirty thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.) shall pay a fee of three hundred dollars ($300.00) to the |
division of motor vehicles for consideration of a special trip permit approved by the department of |
transportation pursuant to subsection (e). |
(d) Annual fee. An annual fee of three hundred dollars ($300) four hundred dollars ($400) |
paid to the division of motor vehicles shall exempt the payor from the necessity of paying trip |
permit fees for non-divisible loads of less than one hundred thirty thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.) |
as found in subsection (c). However, payment of the fee shall not be deemed to authorize non- |
compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the department of transportation entitled |
"State of Rhode Island Manual for Overweight and Oversize Vehicle Permits". |
(e) Blanket construction equipment permits may be issued, as determined by the |
department of transportation, for intrastate movement of non-reducible loads upon payment of the |
fee set forth in subsection (d). The duration of the blanket permit may not exceed one year, and the |
construction equipment permit load shall be limited to a minimum overall length of fifty-five feet |
(55'), a maximum overall length of eighty feet (80'), and a maximum width of twelve feet four |
inches (12' 4"), provided that neither the division of motor vehicles nor local authorities may issue |
blanket permits for non-divisible loads weighing in excess of one hundred thirty thousand pounds |
(130,000 lbs.) on less than six (6) axles, with individual axle weights exceeding twenty-five |
thousand pounds (25,000 lbs.); provided, further, that the department of transportation, with respect |
to highways under its jurisdiction, may, in its discretion and upon application and for good cause |
shown, approve the issuance of a special trip permit authorizing the applicant to exceed one hundred |
thirty thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.) for non-divisible loads. A flashing amber light shall be in |
operation above the highest point of the vehicle and shall be visible from both the front and rear of |
the vehicle; and signs and red warning flags shall be affixed to all extremities. All blanket permits |
issued in accordance with this section shall be effective during daylight and night-time hours for |
all over-dimensional moves made and travel shall be allowed on state highways. The following |
restrictions on travel times shall apply to: |
(1) Freeways -- in general. |
No travel will be allowed between the hours of 7:00 am and 9:00 am or between 3:00 pm |
and 7:00 pm on any day of the week. |
(2) Arterial roadways. |
No travel will be allowed between the hours of 7:00 am and 9:00 am or between 3:00 pm |
and 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday. |
(3) Holidays. |
Memorial Day, Victory Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day -- No Saturday, Sunday, or |
Monday day or night travel. |
Thanksgiving Day -- No Wednesday night or Thursday day or night travel. No travel on |
Wednesday through Sunday of Thanksgiving week in any calendar year. |
Independence Day, Veterans Day, Christmas Day -- No day or night travel and no travel |
the previous night. |
Easter Sunday. No Saturday night or Sunday travel. |
(f) Construction equipment blanket permits shall not be granted for travel over the |
following bridges: |
Blackstone River Viaduct 750 carrying I-295 northbound and southbound over the |
Blackstone River; |
Kingston Road Bridge No. 403 carrying I-95 northbound and southbound over Kingston |
Road. |
(g) Travel of blanket permitted construction equipment through zones with reductions in |
lane width such as construction zones will not be allowed. Prior to travel, blanket permit holders |
are responsible to verify the location of construction zones and lane width reductions. Locations of |
lane width reduction zones are available through the state department of transportation's |
construction office. |
SECTION 2. Sections 39-18.1-4 and 39-18.1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-18.1 |
entitled "Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction Act of 2011" are hereby amended to read |
as follows: |
39-18.1-4. Rhode Island highway maintenance account created. |
(a) There is hereby created a special account in the intermodal surface transportation fund |
as established in § 31-36-20 that is to be known as the Rhode Island highway maintenance account. |
(b) The fund shall consist of all those moneys that the state may from time to time direct |
to the fund, including, but not necessarily limited to, moneys derived from the following sources: |
(1) There is imposed a surcharge of thirty dollars ($30.00) per vehicle or truck, other than |
those with specific registrations set forth below in subsection (b)(1)(i). Such surcharge shall be paid |
by each vehicle or truck owner in order to register that owner's vehicle or truck and upon each |
subsequent biennial registration. This surcharge shall be phased in at the rate of ten dollars ($10.00) |
each year. The total surcharge will be ten dollars ($10.00) from July 1, 2013, through June 30, |
2014, twenty dollars ($20.00) from July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015, and thirty dollars ($30.00) |
from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, and each year thereafter. |
(i) For owners of vehicles or trucks with the following plate types, the surcharge shall be |
as set forth below and shall be paid in full in order to register the vehicle or truck and upon each |
subsequent renewal: |
Plate Type Surcharge |
Antique $5.00 |
Farm $10.00 |
Motorcycle $13.00 |
(ii) For owners of trailers, the surcharge shall be one-half (1/2) of the biennial registration |
amount and shall be paid in full in order to register the trailer and upon each subsequent renewal. |
(2) There is imposed a surcharge of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per vehicle or truck, other than |
those with specific registrations set forth in subsection (b)(2)(i) below, for those vehicles or trucks |
subject to annual registration, to be paid annually by each vehicle or truck owner in order to register |
that owner's vehicle or truck and upon each subsequent annual registration. This surcharge will be |
phased in at the rate of five dollars ($5.00) each year. The total surcharge will be five dollars ($5.00) |
from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014, ten dollars ($10.00) from July 1, 2014, through June 30, |
2015, and fifteen dollars ($15.00) from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, and each year |
thereafter. |
(i) For registrations of the following plate types, the surcharge shall be as set forth below |
and shall be paid in full in order to register the plate, and upon each subsequent renewal: |
Plate Type Surcharge |
Boat Dealer $6.25 |
Cycle Dealer $6.25 |
In-transit $5.00 |
Manufacturer $5.00 |
New Car Dealer $5.00 |
Used Car Dealer $5.00 |
Racer Tow $5.00 |
Transporter $5.00 |
Bailee $5.00 |
(ii) For owners of trailers, the surcharge shall be one-half (1/2) of the annual registration |
amount and shall be paid in full in order to register the trailer and upon each subsequent renewal. |
(iii) For owners of school buses, the surcharge will be phased in at the rate of six dollars |
and twenty-five cents ($6.25) each year. The total surcharge will be six dollars and twenty-five |
cents ($6.25) from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014, and twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50) |
from July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015, and each year thereafter.; |
(3) There is imposed a surcharge of thirty dollars ($30.00) per license to operate a motor |
vehicle to be paid every five (5) years by each licensed operator of a motor vehicle. This surcharge |
will be phased in at the rate of ten dollars ($10.00) each year. The total surcharge will be ten dollars |
($10.00) from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014, twenty dollars ($20.00) from July 1, 2014, |
through June 30, 2015, and thirty dollars ($30.00) from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, and |
each year thereafter. In the event that a license is issued or renewed for a period of less than five |
(5) years, the surcharge will be prorated according to the period of time the license will be valid; |
(4) All fees assessed pursuant to § 31-47.1-11, and chapters 3, 6, 10, and 10.1 of title 31, |
except for fees assessed pursuant to §§ 31-10-31(6) and (8), shall be deposited into the Rhode Island |
highway maintenance account, provided that for fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018 these fees be |
transferred as follows: |
(i) From July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, twenty-five percent (25%) will be deposited; |
(ii) From July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, fifty percent (50%) will be deposited; and |
(iii) From July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018, sixty percent (60%) will be deposited; and |
(iv) From July 1, 2018, and each year thereafter, one hundred percent (100%) will be |
deposited; |
(5) All remaining funds from previous general obligation bond issues that have not |
otherwise been allocated. |
(c) Effective July 1, 2019, ninety-five percent (95%) of All all funds collected pursuant to |
this section shall be deposited in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account and shall be used |
only for the purposes set forth in this chapter. The remaining funds shall be retained as general |
revenues to partially offset cost of collections. |
(d) Unexpended balances and any earnings thereon shall not revert to the general fund but |
shall remain in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account. There shall be no requirement that |
monies received into the Rhode Island highway maintenance account during any given calendar |
year or fiscal year be expended during the same calendar year or fiscal year. |
(e) The Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be administered by the director, |
who shall allocate and spend monies from the fund only in accordance with the purposes and |
procedures set forth in this chapter. |
39-18.1-5. Allocation of funds. |
(a) The monies in the highway maintenance fund to be directed to the department of |
transportation pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of this section shall be allocated through the |
transportation improvement program process to provide the state match for federal transportation |
funds, in place of borrowing, as approved by the state planning council. The expenditure of moneys |
in the highway maintenance fund shall only be authorized for projects that appear in the state's |
transportation improvement program. |
(b) Provided, however, that beginning with fiscal year 2015 and annually thereafter, the |
department of transportation will allocate necessary funding to programs that are designed to |
eliminate structural deficiencies of the state's bridge, road, and maintenance systems and |
infrastructure. |
(c) Provided, further, that beginning July 1, 2015, five percent (5%) of available proceeds |
in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be allocated annually to the Rhode Island |
public transit authority for operating expenditures. |
(d) Provided, further, that from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2019 and annually thereafter, |
in addition to the amount above, the Rhode Island public transit authority shall receive an amount |
of not less than five million dollars ($5,000,000) each fiscal year. |
(e) Provided, further, that the Rhode Island public transit authority shall convene a |
coordinating council consisting of those state agencies responsible for meeting the needs of low- |
income seniors and persons with disabilities, along with those stakeholders that the authority deems |
appropriate and are necessary to inform, develop, and implement the federally required |
Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan. |
The council shall develop, as part of the state's federally required plan, recommendations |
for the appropriate and sustainable funding of the free-fare program for low-income seniors and |
persons with disabilities, while maximizing the use of federal funds available to support the |
transportation needs of this population. |
The council shall report these recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the house |
of representatives, and the president of the senate no later than November 1, 2018. |
SECTION 3. This article shall take effect upon passage. |