Going sour on truck tolls

By John Howell
Posted 1/26/16

Ask Sen. William Walaska whether the governor’s truck toll proposal is likely to pass, and he starts talking about restaurants.

“Have you ever had a bad meal at a new restaurant? Well, if you …

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Going sour on truck tolls

Posted

Ask Sen. William Walaska whether the governor’s truck toll proposal is likely to pass, and he starts talking about restaurants.

“Have you ever had a bad meal at a new restaurant? Well, if you did, you don’t go back.”

While likening the governor’s plan to finance bridge repairs to restaurants may be a stretch, there’s a sour taste to the proposal that no matter how it is served up has legislators and local officials looking for something else on the menu. Last week, mayors and town managers and administrators met in Johnston and, among other issues, discussed truck tolls. While the coalition didn’t take a position, the municipal leaders had reservations with the plan.

Reached after the meeting, Mayor Scott Avedisian said none of the mayors favored tolls and that Warwick police have done a “preliminary look at places where we might see an increase in traffic relative to people trying to avoid tolls.” The mayor said he would like to get more information before taking a firm stance.

Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena reasoned that it is a state issue and it is up for state legislators to decide the outcome of the package.

And if lawmakers needed any more evidence that this recipe to repair a system of bridges that has been ranked the worst in the country needs more than butter and sugar, the Hassenfeld Institute for Public Leadership at Bryant University released a poll showing 49.4 percent of those responding as against the plan. Of the options offered to finance repairs, including an increased diesel tax, responders favored reducing other state expenses as the means of covering costs. This comes three weeks after AAA Northeast released a poll finding 55 percent of 2,200 members favoring the governor’s RhodeWorks truck tolls.

The tide appears to be changing.

Legislators heard more about it Thursday, whether they wanted to or not. As they convened, a caravan of trucks circled the State House, horns blaring intermittently as if anyone inside needed reminding.

Still legislators wanted to see the measure for themselves before taking a position.

“Show me the bill,” said Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi when asked what he thought of tolls.

Shekarcki reasons, “The whole thing is data driven.” He said what the state is projected to receive in federal highway funds over the next five years could dramatically change things. Using “GARVEES” [grant anticipation revenue vehicles] that are secured on future federal funding, he said, could lessen or eliminate the need for tolls.

But Shekarchi doesn’t want to see the administration backing away from repairing state roads and bridges.

“We need to fix the roads, we need it for good economic development,” he said.

How does he personally stand on tolls? That’s a no-brainer for the legislator. If it’s a choice between tolls and no tolls, no tolls is the answer. But it’s not that simple, and until there are some specifics, he’s not taking a stand.

“It’s hard to take a position on something you haven’t seen,” he said.

Rep. Joseph Solomon takes a similar stance.

“I’m waiting to see a bill and go from there,” he said. He said he hopes legislators find an alternative to tolls.

Rep. David Bennett doesn’t hold out hope for the governor’s plan as presented, although he says roads and bridges need to be addressed. “We have to figure a solution,” he said.

The issue of truck tolls has reverberated throughout the state, especially since the governor released the plan for 14 toll gantries. The prospect that truckers may seek to circumvent gantries by using local roads has raised concerns among municipal elected officials. Some town and city councils are considering resolutions in opposition to truck tolls.

Warwick City Council President Donna Travis said she hasn’t heard any talk of a council resolution on tolls. But that’s not to say there aren’t strong feelings on the issue.

Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur took the discussion to a new level.

“I don’t think is appropriate the way we send billions [in foreign aid] for roads, food, and water, when we look at the needs we have at home,” he said. He’d like to see federal funding go into extending sewers so as to ensure clean waters.

But what about truck tolls in Rhode Island?

“I have a difficult time signing on to tolls; those costs are just going to get passed on to us,” he said.

Ladouceur believes an extra tax on diesel fuel would be more equitable. He said it would broaden the base of the cost and be less of a burden on local trucking companies.

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  • RISchadenfreude

    Step 1: Misappropriate highway money (fuel taxes, registration & inspection fees, etc.) to the "General Fund".

    Step 2: Penalize business (a RI standard) to generate revenue by taxing (tolling) trucks.

    Step 3: The market (trucking companies and independent drivers) adapts and avoids RI, thus defeating the measure's intent.

    Step 4: RI residents (EVERYONE) gets taxed (tolled) to make up the shortfall.

    People, the fix (and I don't mean road repairs) is in if this passes, and you better believe the money "earmarked" for roads will be misappropriated...er, I mean, "reallocated".

    Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Report this

  • JohnStark

    Even for a state which has never been known to embrace business, this has to take the cake. RI's tax on fuel is already the second highest in New England for both gas and diesel. It is 42% higher than New Hampshire, a state with impeccable highways. Yes, NH has three tolls to cover it's 17,000 miles of state highways. But most NH residents go many weeks without seeing a toll, if ever. In contrast, this tax-happy governor is proposing 12-14 tolls to cover 1100 miles of RI's state highways. And two things are certain: 1.The revenue from RI's tolls will never, ever be "enough", and 2.The toll will apply to all vehicles within five years. Why? See #1. Finally, I like Ed Ladouceur. But, somehow, the cost of tolls would be passed on to "us", but higher fuel costs would not? Come on, Ed.

    Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Report this