Pell Bridge tolls challenged
6:41 PM Mon, Mar 30, 2009 | Permalink
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A Connecticut woman has sued the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, accusing it of illegally favoring Rhode Islanders by making out-of-state drivers pay higher tolls to cross the Pell Bridge. David A. Darlington, chairman of the authority, said that he believes that the authority is on sound legal ground and that the authority has no intention of changing its toll policy. 
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Dave Darlington clearly has never read the interstate commerce commission laws. The Pell bridge was funded in part by federal funds and as such, no toll structure can be discriminatory in nature.
The fact that RIBTA cannot properly manage its budgets and expenditures is not a reason or justification to more than double the tolls.
They would have you believe that these costs suddenly appeared, instead of gradually becoming necessary. If in fact these cost increases are necessary then, lacking some sudden or catostrophic structural failure of the bridge, the RIBTA has been derelict in their duties for the past X years leading up to this point and perhaps even criminal in neglecting to properly plan and account for a sound long term maintenance plan. Given their fiasco of 10 plus years with the Jamestown bridge, their constant expenditures on new colors and wraps for the gates at the Pell bridge (demonstrating they did not properly analyze or even think about the process, the sight lines etc.), or the fact that they have just as many paid employees dangerously running back and forth through the gates as they did when they were taking tolls, pretty much makes it clear they qualify as a first beuracracy. Experts at looking like they are doing something, but short on any quantifiable results.
The more likley scenario is they see the opporunity to glutton at a cash cow feast. Mr. Darlington and his minions must have went to the Citibank school of greed.
Yes, Rhode island there is a Santa Claus, and he is trading your tourist and Defense business future for the present.
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