Are the Tolls Really on Their Way Out?

A Fall River Herald article gives the impression that East Bay legislators foresee the disappearance of the tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge.

  • Rep. John Edwards (D, Portsmouth, Tiverton): “If we are successful in the Legislature, which I think we will be, the tolls will go away.”
  • Sen. Louis DiPalma (D, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton): “We are going to win this with a phased approach. I am cautiously optimistic.”

Rep. Raymond Gallison (D, Bristol, Portsmouth) and Sen. Christopher Ottiano (R, Bristol, Portsmouth, Tiverton) were at the progress-proclaiming meeting but were not quoted.

I’m still skeptical, and here’s why:

Increased fees on gas, driver’s licenses, car insurance and car inspections are all on the table, Edwards said. Estimates are as high as $300 million a year for the next decade to completely repair all the state’s roads and bridges.

“We have to come up with an alternative funding source,” Edwards said. “I believe what we need to do is dedicate the money we raise every year on our inspection fees, our license fees and our speeding fees.”

There’s a reason the legislature hasn’t already done the obvious and prioritized infrastructure: The tax base is maxed out and too much money goes to things it shouldn’t, but about which somebody powerful cares enough to defend it.  A few hearings from a special legislative commission don’t change that or make it likely that legislators across the state want to announce a major tax/fee increase during an election year at the same time they’re tearing down an expensive tolling system on the SRB.

The most likely explanation is that this remains about political cover for local politicians. If an increased toll is coming, appearing to have been out-manned or even duped helps East Bay reps and senators stay on the us side of us versus them.

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