RITBA IS CHARGING THE EZ-PASS ACCOUNTS OF DRIVERS WHO AREN'T EVEN USING THEM

RITBA is apparently charging the EZ-pass accounts of drivers who cross the Sakonnet Bridge but don't have their EZ-pass in the car (they apparently trace the license plate). They claim this is to "help" drivers whose EZ-pass doesn't register. If you don't want them doing this without your permission, you can go to your EZ-pass account and remove your license-plate from the account, and then RITBA will need to send a bill instead. You should be able to call RITBA and have them do this on the phone.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

GOVERNOR CANDIDATE ALLAN FUNG OPPOSES SAKONNET TOLLS

Allan Fung, Republican candidate for Governor, announced in his candidacy statement that he opposes tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge, and supports alternative ways to fund bridge maintenance.

There are two main avenues to pursue to eliminate tolls. The first is to convince the committee considering toll alternatives (and the General Assembly they will report to) of the destructive consequences and blatant unfairness of these tolls, and the need to put in place a statewide, non-toll means to fund bridge maintenance. The second is to make clear to all State officials, including candidates for Governor, of the negative political consequences of supporting tolls.

Getting every candidate for Statewide office on the record regarding these tolls is crucial, and making sure it's known that a broad section of East Bay voters (and many others across the State) will vote only for those who pledge to oppose tolls. Especially in low-turnout primaries, a motivated, coordinated effort on this issue can be the deciding factor.

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20131104-cranston-mayor-allan-fung-confirms-run-for-r.i.-governor.ece

Brian Medeiros

Tiverton, RI

REP. CANARIO SEEKING AUDIT OF RITBA'S FINANCES

Rep. Dennis Canario is seeking a full audit of the finances of the quasi-governmental RI Turnpike & Bridge Authority (link below). RITBA is the agency currently charging the 10-cent toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge, and which is seeking  much higher tolls to fund its operations. All who oppose these destructive tolls should do everything possible to support our local elected Representatives and Senators as they work to convince our State officials of the need for a fair, statewide bridg-maintenance program that doesn't hurt local residents & businesses with tolls.

A full accounting of RITBA's operations & finances needs to be part of any serious effort to create a fair, effective bridge-maintenance program. The simple fact is that over 90% of RITBA's proposed tolls will fund RITBA's budget, not Sakonnet Bridge maintenance. RI taxpayers own the bridge, & are paying for the bonds that built it. 

Our local elected officials are all working to create a fair statewide system without adding destructive tolls. Our State government needs to join them, and put the interests of the people who own the bridge before those of a quasi-governmental agency looking for East Bay residents & businesses to fund their budget.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

http://tiverton.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/representative-seeks-audit-of-ritba-finances-tiverton

RITBA NOW WILL SEND OUT TOLL-BILLS

Of course they are. Because most of the funds RITBA wants to raise by tolls will go to pay for RITBA's budget, facility, personnel, etc, and NOT maintenance on the Sakonnet Bridge, which would require LESS than a 10-cent toll. This toll is a shell-game that some want to impose on East Bay residents & businesses. We have less than three months to support our local Senators & Reps in getting SRB tolls eliminated in favor of a fair, Statewide system of funding bridge maintenance.

http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x1803840193/RIDOT-starting-to-send-out-toll-bills-to-Sakonnet-bridge-frequent-fliers

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

TOLL-ALTERNATIVE COMMISSION HAS OPPORTUNITY TO HELP ALL RHODE ISLANDERS

The Commission exploring alternatives to tolls has an opportunity not to just undo a destructive & unfair toll on SR Bridge, but to create a responsible and even-handed means of maintaining bridges across RI. The recommendation of this Commission, and action then taken by the General Assembly, will demonstrate whether our State government is interested in truly solving a problem, or simply in using East Bay residents & businesses as a means to fund the budget of the quasi-government RI Turnpike & Bridge Authority.

http://www.eastbayri.com/news/special-commission-gets-broad-overview-of-states-infrastructure-ills/

Brian Medeiros

Tiverton, RI

COMMITTEE CONSIDERING TOLLS ALTERNATIVES STARTS MEETING THIS WEEK

As the committee charged with exploring a statewide system to maintain bridges without tolls begins meeting this Thursday, the time for toll opponents to make their opposition heard is now. The obvious arguments of fairness and the destructive and divisive results of tolls need to continue being made loud and clear. But it must also be made clear to the State's political leadership that Sakonnet Bridge tolls, whatever the amount, will never be accepted, and those who support tolls will pay a political price.

With the top advocate of tolls, the Governor, not seeking re-election, it's the ideal time for State leaders to put this divisive issue behind them and devise a non-toll means to fund maintenance to all state bridges fairly and efficiently.

http://www.eastbayri.com/news/bridge-fundingtolls-study-panel-begins-work/

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

PROJO: GOV. CHAFEE WILL NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION

Governor Lincoln Chafee has decided not to run for re-election next year. Beyond all the other implications of this decision, it has the potential to drastically change the Sakonnet Toll issue. The primary supporter of tolls will not be Governor after next year, nor a candidate in the 2014 campaign. There are three ways this could benefit the united effort to eliminate destructive tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge.

First, there is an opportunity in the 2014 primaries to support only candidates who oppose SRB tolls. This is why it's crucial to form a united electorate committed to turning out to vote in 2014 and support only anti-toll candidates.We need to get all candidates to take a clear stand on the issue, and make sure all voters know which candidates will stand with the people of the East Bay.

Second, as the committee charged with considering alternatives to tolls and a Statewide process of funding bridge maintenance begins to meet, the equation has been altered. With the primary proponent of imposing this unfair tax on East Bay residents and businesses no longer a candidate, it's time to maximize efforts to convince those on the committee, and our Senate and House leadership, that there is no upside to supporting these tolls. This committee is the ideal opportunity to correct a bad situation. and responsibly fund bridge maintenance in a way that treats all Rhode Islanders equally.

And third, this presents an opportunity to persuade Governor Chafee that however well-intentioned this toll plan might have been, it's also the most unfair, inefficient, and destructive means to address the maintenance issue. With a year left in office, surely he doesn't want this divisive and wrongheaded toll plan to be his lasting legacy with an entire region of RI, any more than State and House leaders do. Supporting a non-toll maintenance process that is uniform statewide would solve two problems and remove this contentious issue.

This Sakonnet Toll process has been a maddening and frustrating one. The absolute promise of the State not to consider tolls on the replacement bridge was simply disregarded, the unfairness of targeting only one region with tolls disregarded, the near-unanimous opposition of residents and businesses ignored.

The bridge belongs to us, the people of RI who paid for it, and we must not accept our elected representatives handing control of it over to a quasi-public agency whose primary concern is covering their operating budget. Tolls are a betrayal of the people, and a bad deal for all except the RI Turnpike & Bridge Authority. The time is now to correct course and devise a bridge-maintenance plan that will solve the problem without creating worse ones.

Brian Medeiros

Tiverton, RI

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20130904-r.i.-governor-chafee-will-not-seek-re-election-poll.ece