Rhode Island House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan plans to submit legislation to repeal the so-called “Rhode Works” law, a truck-only tolling program that has been met with strong opposition from industry organizations.
Rhode Island’s controversial truck-only tolling program still may not be a done deal despite being approved last year by the state’s General Assembly.
State Rep. Patricia Morgan plans to submit legislation to repeal the so-called “Rhode Works” law, the House minority leader said in a statement.
The program, which would implement bridge tolls throughout the state for tractor trailer operators, was authorized on Feb. 11, 2016 through the passage of the Rhode Island Bridge Replacement, Reconstruction and Maintenance Fund Act, also known as Rhode Works. Through Rhode Works, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is authorized to toll large commercial trucks to fund, in part, the replacement or reconstruction of the bridges throughout the state.
Under the plan, toll revenues will be used to fix more than 150 structurally deficient bridges and make repairs to another 500 bridges to prevent them from becoming deficient, enabling the state to bring 90 percent of its bridges up to federal standards by 2024.
Unsurprisingly, the truck-tolling scheme was met with strong opposition from trucking advocacy groups, which argue the program is discriminatory and could place an unreasonable burden on motor carriers.
“The Rhode Works bill is irresponsible and should never have passed last year,” said Morgan. “It is a $45 million albatross around the necks of Rhode Island consumers. It will add to our already high cost of living, making it more difficult for average Rhode Islanders to keep their head above water. It will undoubtedly hurt our small businesses who are struggling to remain competitive with rivals in other states not burdened with the extra shipping costs.
“In other words, it will had more weight to an economy that is already dead last.”
According to Morgan, the potentially discriminatory nature of a program that only tolls one class of vehicle is “most likely unconstitutional.”
“Despite our many requests, Gov. Raimondo has failed to produce any legal justification to the contrary. This leads us to the uncomfortable conclusion that her rationale is poorly supported,” Morgan said.
The Rhode Island Trucking Association (RITA) and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) were among the groups rallying behind the minority leader.
“As our industry knows well, interstate tolls are not the solution when it comes to funding infrastructure improvements – something we care deeply about,” ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said in a statement. “The unintended consequences are harsh and counterproductive: interstate tolls punish the local economy, increase traffic and congestion and waste taxpayer money.
“Moreover, the trucking industry will not sit idle while states attempt to turn our trucks into rolling ATMs,” he added. “The onus is now on the Rhode Island legislature to correct this ill-conceived plan. ATA will take whatever steps are necessary to prevent these proposed tolls on overpasses, including litigation.”
Spear pointed to a number of states that have enacted legislation in recent years to raise gas and diesel taxes in order to fund infrastructure investment.
“Make no mistake about it: Rhode Works won’t work for Rhode Island,” said RITA President and CEO Christopher Maxwell. “It will increase the cost of doing business in our state, divert commerce away from it, and actually widen our budget shortfalls.
“This is nothing but a veiled tax for Rhode Island citizens and one that places an unnecessary premium on every item sold in the state, thus making Rhode Island less competitive economically,” he added. “As other states are realizing immediate gains from fuel tax increases, Rhode Island is losing out as we take a reckless gamble on something other than a tried and true funding mechanism.”
Morgan went even further, seemingly accusing the Governor of pushing the bill through with disingenuous claims about the condition of certain bridges and the state budget. She pointed to the Slatersville Bridge project, which has seen estimated costs balloon from $9.1 million to $13.5 million in just two months.
“Worse, the spending includes a park and garden and scenic amenities,” said Morgan. “Please don’t tell me that we passed the law that will harm consumers, businesses, job seekers and the trucking industry so the town of Slatersville could have a nice place to grow flowers. Either the claims of imminent bridge collapse were false, or the Governor and her team are spending tolls wastefully. Both scenarios are wrong and we should call a halt until we get truthful answers.
“Last year the Governor said Rhode Island was too broke to come up with the $45 million to avoid tolls,” she added. “Yet this year she has proposed eliminating car taxes, starting a new entitlement program to pay college tuition, and now buy a stadium. Clearly, she was not being forthright with us. There never was a need to toll our highways.”
R.I. House Rep. seeks to repeal controversial truck tolling law
