Rhode Island’s Rhode Works ‘a bold move’, says IBTTA

The International Bridge, tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has applauded Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and state legislators for passing Rhode Works to raise revenue for much-needed bridge repairs and maintenance across the state. According to the Rhode Island government, Rhode Island ranks last in the US in overall bridge condition, with about 22 per cent of the 1,162 bridges in the state structurally deficient. Officials plan to fix more than 150 structurally deficient bridges in the state an
February 12, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

The International Bridge, tunnel and Turnpike Association (63 IBTTA) has applauded Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and state legislators for passing Rhode Works to raise revenue for much-needed bridge repairs and maintenance across the state.
 
According to the Rhode Island government, Rhode Island ranks last in the US in overall bridge condition, with about 22 per cent of the 1,162 bridges in the state structurally deficient. Officials plan to fix more than 150 structurally deficient bridges in the state and make repairs to another 500 bridges to prevent them from becoming deficient by investing significant additional funding in transportation infrastructure. This involves charging a user fee on only large commercial trucks - not cars or smaller trucks – and taking advantage of the additional funding in the FAST Act, which Congress passed in December 2015.
 
Patrick D. Jones, IBTTA executive director and CEO, International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, said, “This is a bold move to maintain major infrastructure, keep residents of Rhode Island safe, and grow the economy. Other states, including nearby Connecticut, are watching.”
 
Jones pointed out that while the gas tax has been a sold tool to fund roads and bridges, congress has not raised the tax since 1993 and it has lost much of its purchasing power since then. He said that in response to the need for additional dedicated funding, Rhode Island and many other states are looking at alternatives such as tolling; across 35 states, tolling generates more than US$14 billion annually in revenues to support nearly 6,000 miles of toll roads.  
 
“With the passage of Rhode Works, the smallest state in the nation has taken the most significant action to address their infrastructure needs with both a reasonable plan and a steady revenue stream to repair and maintain Rhode Island’s deteriorating bridges. Gov. Raimondo’s Rhode Works program places a toll on big-rigs travelling up and down the East coast. Each truck toll will be as little as US$3 and the maximum for a one-way route from Connecticut to Massachusetts along Interstate 95 will be US$20,” said Jones.

Charging, Tolling & RUC

Related Content

  • March 1, 2017
    IBTTA, ITS America respond to Trump’s infrastructure plans
    The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) and ITS America have both responded positively to President Donald Trump’s address to Congress, where he outlined his administration’s priorities, including repairing and rebuilding America’s transportation infrastructure. Trump said he will ask lawmakers to approve legislation that would see a US$1 trillion investment in infrastructure, funded by a mix of direct federal investment and private financing, according to The Hill.
    Read More
  • May 30, 2014
    Making the case for interstate tolling
    A provision in the Grow America Act, introduced to Congress last month by Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, proposes lifting a decades-old ban on tolling existing interstate general purpose lanes. According Daniel Papiernik, HNTB Corporation's mid-Atlantic toll services leader, writing in Roll Call, recent opposition to the proposal is short-sighted. He claims that relying on revenues derived from the gas tax is simply an unsustainable way of funding the nation’s aging roads, bridges and tunnels
    Read More
  • June 5, 2015
    Tolling is the 21st century’s road funding solution
    HNTB’s Rick Herrington and Brad Guilmino put the case for tolling. Tolling is becoming the 21st century solution of choice for generating additional user-based transportation revenue. The proven funding source is being seriously considered for expanded use by cities, states and even the federal government with support from elected officials across the political spectrum. In fact, with each federal transportation reauthorisation, tolling restrictions have been relaxed.
    Read More
  • April 25, 2013
    Diverse development of tolling business models
    A diversity of tolling business models offers a wider toolbox of highway finance options, as the IBTTA’s Patrick Jones explains. The business models for America’s tolled highways have gone through several different evolutions over the last 75 years, reflecting a succession of shifts in transportation policy and politics, financing and funding models, urban patterns, customer needs, and technology. And with more and more decision-makers expressing renewed interest in tolling, it’s that very diversity that ma
    Read More

Highlighted Content