Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/625735
18 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | JANUARY 2016 JOURNAL NEWS 20 days to respond if there is "good cause" for delay. The association asked for toll gan- try locations listed in RhodeWorks, a state study on RhodeWorks' economic impact and the methodology and data behind a related traffic count study. RITA also requested all correspon- dence between RIDOT and FHWA on the federal tolling exemption. Last legislative session, the House passed a budget without RhodeWorks, while the Senate over- whelmingly approved a truck toll bill that dropped fees from $6 to $3.50. Maxwell said the Senate's plan, which added rebates and tax credits for state businesses, could violate interstate commerce laws. RITA unveiled a RhodeWorks alter- native Oct. 28 that excludes tolling but would increase the diesel fuel tax and truck registration fees. It would create more than $220 million over four years, which is the amount RhodeWorks would allocate to repair 453 bridges outside of the 6/10 connector. RITA says that after the fourth year, its plan will produce annual revenue of $25.9 million. RIDOT could bond this rev- enue for the 6/10 connector, or the entire package could be bonded to include all RhodeWorks projects listed. The association says its proposal could be implemented immediately, while Raimondo's plan would require waiting until 2018 to spend $43 mil- lion on tolling gantries. The RITA plan and RhodeWorks both call for refinancing garvee bonds, which the association says will produce $121 million in the first four years. Federal law authorized these bonds to allow state and local agen- cies to issue debt for transportation projects, using future federal highway funds to repay costs associated with the issuance of the debt. – Jill Dunn ENDORSED BY ENDORSED BY WE SUPPORT: 888-361-7277 | PrePassNow.com THE PROVEN SOLUTION FOR BYPASSING AND TOLLS YESTERDAY, TODAY & BEYOND Continued from page 17 Rhode Island legislators are expected to revisit the trucks-only toll plan this month when the new session begins.