No Tolls on Sakonnet, Higher Gas Tax and Fees Instead in State Budget

State lawmakers passed a state spending plan last night that nixes tolls from the Sakonnet River Bridge and creates a transportation fund to pay for repairs and maintenance of state roads and bridges.

“We are going to better our infrastructure across the state while eliminating the tolls on the East Bay, and there’s no single burden we’re imposing on anyone that’s oppressive," House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said in a press conference last night at the State House.

To make up any differences, the state's vehicle inspection fee will increase to $55 from $39, and the "good driving fee" will double to $50.

There will also be a surcharge on rentals and for titles.

At the same time, the gas tax will increase and it will be tied to the inflation index starting in 2015. It is estimated that the tax will go up about 1 cent in 2015.

The gas tax is currently 33 cents.

A difference from the sweeping transportation infrastructure bill proposed by a group of Aquidneck Island and East Bay legislators earlier this session is that the Sakonnet River Bridge will remain under the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. The authority will now get a portion of the money from the new infrastructure fund.

It is estimated that the new fund will generate about $50 million per year by 2019.

The spending plan, approved by the House Finance Committee last night, heads to the full house for a vote.

The Senate is likely to follow suit and Governor Lincoln Chafee, in a statement, said he would probably sign it.

Catch the discussion during the hearing last night and peruse all the budget articles HERE. If you see something interesting, post it in the comments.