Rhode Island
Judge strikes down Rhode Island’s toll system as unconstitutional
![Judge strikes down Rhode Island’s toll system as unconstitutional Judge strikes down Rhode Island’s toll system as unconstitutional](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/edbf9b2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1393x731%200%200/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=https://source-media-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com/b1/39/76d296fd4c2fb50c69f0b084cdbd/rigina.jpg)
A federal choose final week struck down Rhode Island’s first-of-its-kind trucks-only tolling program, notching a win for the interstate transportation trade that had sued the state over the legislation.
The state has 30 days to attraction.
Opponents mentioned the Sept. 21 ruling will ship a message to different states contemplating related tolling packages to drum up contemporary income for transportation capital packages. Connecticut is about to implement an analogous trucks-only toll program subsequent yr.
U.S. District Decide William E. Smith mentioned in his 91-page ruling that Rhode Island’s four-year-old toll system was “enacted with a discriminatory objective,” and ordered the state to cease assortment inside 48 hours.
“Rhode Island has a reputable – even compelling – curiosity within the upkeep of its ailing bridges,” Smith wrote, noting that the busiest freeway within the nation, the I-95 north/south hall, bisects Rhode Island and greater than 250,000 vehicles and vans “pace by means of the state on I-95 every single day, many by no means stopping to understand the charms of the Ocean State.”
However, he mentioned, “there isn’t any cause that curiosity can’t be served by a tolling system that doesn’t offend the Commerce Clause. Certainly, many states have applied tolling programs that pretty apportion their prices throughout numerous customers and don’t discriminate towards interstate commerce.”
The state has no bonds backed by the toll income, based on a Rhode Island Division of Transportation spokesperson. The state’s GARVEE bonds, backed by federal funds, stay unaffected by the choice. As a result of it applies strictly to the truck-only program, the ruling is just not anticipated to have an effect on the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, mentioned Fitch Rankings analyst Henry Flynn.
The lawsuit was intently watched by toll advocates and the interstate transportation trade and comes as states seek for new income streams as the worth of the fuel tax declines.
“We advised Rhode Island’s leaders from the beginning that their loopy scheme was not solely discriminatory however unlawful,” American Trucking Affiliation President Chris Spear mentioned in a press release. “To any state trying to goal our trade, you higher convey your A sport, as a result of we’re not rolling over.”
Rhode Island Trucking Affiliation President Chris Maxwell mentioned the ruling “sends a robust sign to different states that trucking is to not be focused as a piggy financial institution.”
Enacted in 2018 below then-Gov. Gina Raimondo, the tolling system assesses single-user charges on truck drivers in numerous quantities once they cross sure interstate bridges, with income funding the Rhode Island Bridge Substitute, Reconstruction and Upkeep Fund Act. Often known as RhodeWorks, this system is a 10-year, $4.7 billion funding aimed primarily at repairing the state’s bridges, lengthy thought of among the many worst within the nation.
The ATA and two trucking firms sued the state in 2018 to dam this system. Amongst different issues, the ATA argued that it discriminated particularly towards out-of-state vans as a result of they have a tendency to bigger and heavier than native autos.
The state has collected $101 million in truck tolls for the reason that program’s launch. It generates roughly $45 million a yr, most of which is used as an area match, together with the state fuel tax and motorcar charges, to leverage a complete of $700 million yearly for the capital program, RIDOT Director Peter Alviti mentioned in a Sept. 22 native radio interview.
“Initially, and most significantly, the governor is intent on protecting the momentum of RhodeWorks transferring ahead,” Alviti mentioned. “He’s intent on discovering an answer.”
The state doesn’t must pay again any of the already collected tolls, Alviti mentioned.
RIDOT is speaking with Gov. Daniel McKee and legislative leaders to resolve whether or not to attraction, Alviti mentioned. “Our attorneys are appraising us that we’ve a superb case, they suppose the choice is incorrect and that we should always go ahead on it,” Alviti mentioned. “There’s at all times a debate about how we fund transportation in each state within the nation once I discuss to different administrators are realizing the identical type of monetary situations.”
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Rhode Island
Farrell-to-Harris touchdown in final minute lifts Rhode Island over Holy Cross in 20-17 thriller
![Farrell-to-Harris touchdown in final minute lifts Rhode Island over Holy Cross in 20-17 thriller Farrell-to-Harris touchdown in final minute lifts Rhode Island over Holy Cross in 20-17 thriller](https://www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Herald_BridgePhoto.jpg)
KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) — Devin Farrell hit Shawn Harris Jr. for a 31-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds remaining and Rhode Island survived a wild fourth quarter to defeat Holy Cross 20-17 on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Rhode Island led 13-3 entering the fourth quarter but Holy Cross rallied with a 43-yard touchdown pass from Joe Pesansky to Charly Mullaly and a 4-yard TD run by Jordan Fuller.
Fuller’s touchdown capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive that lasted 7 1/2 minutes. After the kickoff, Rhode Island took possession at its own 25 with 1:47 remaining.
After three incomplete passes, Farrell ran for a first down and the Rams converted twice more on third down in their winning drive. On second down from the Holy Cross 31-yard line, Farrell connected with Harris for the go-ahead score. Harris caught the pass near the 20 and weaved his way through several defenders on the way to the end zone. The drive covered 75 yards in 12 plays.
Farrell completed 20 of 33 passes for 287 yards with two touchdowns and was Rhode Island’s leading rusher with 55 yards. Marquis Buchanan caught four passes for 88 yards.
Pesansky was 10-for-18 passing for 101 yards with one touchdown for Holy Cross. Fuller had 139 yards on 28 carries.
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Rhode Island
Coach bringing NBA trophy to Rhode Island
![Coach bringing NBA trophy to Rhode Island Coach bringing NBA trophy to Rhode Island](https://turnto10.com/resources/media2/16x9/1612/986/0x29/90/75e3145a-5f81-4c1f-a8d8-e12a129a5085-JM3.png)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — The coach of the NBA champion Boston Celtics is bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy to the Ocean State.
According to a tweet from Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, Coach Joe Mazzulla will be at the State House on Tuesday morning at 10:00.
Mazzulla, a Johnston native, was a standout playing basketball for Bishop Hendricken High School, where he graduated in 2006.
The Celtics won their 18th NBA title by beating the Dallas Mavericks, four games to one in the championship round.
The win came at home in Boston’s TD Garden, on June 17 – or 6/17, in the heart of the 617 area code.
Rhode Island
Taylor Swift in RI; Atlantic Mills sale; rebuilding Republicans: Top stories this week
![Taylor Swift in RI; Atlantic Mills sale; rebuilding Republicans: Top stories this week Taylor Swift in RI; Atlantic Mills sale; rebuilding Republicans: Top stories this week](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/2013/08/22/NPRJ/ghows-PJ-105e5e7d-c191-4779-8783-b1d038fd97e5-03d262a1.jpeg?auto=webp&crop=669,378,x0,y34&format=pjpg&width=1200)
Drone pilot Marc Bontemps captures video of Providence skyline
Bontemps, known for his aerial photos and videos on the Instagram account captured.by.marc, shares his craft with columnist Mark Patinkin.
captured.by.marc
Here are some of The Providence Journal’s most-read stories for the week of Aug. 25, supported by your subscriptions.
Here are the week’s top reads on providencejournal.com:
WESTERLY – Rhode Island’s most famous part-time resident spent time this week at her Watch Hill home, along with her football star boyfriend, at least according to People magazine and TMZ.
Both outlets report that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce – along with pals Patrick and Brittany Mahomes, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Bradley Cooper – were in Rhode Island this week, as the singer takes a break from her Eras tour, which resumes in October, and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end prepares for his Sept. 5 season opener against the Ravens.
Read on for more details on the celebrity sightings around Swift’s Watch Hill mansion, dubbed the “Holiday House.”
Entertainment: Taylor Swift is in Rhode Island this weekend (and she brought some famous friends with her)
PROVIDENCE − The owner of the Atlantic Mills in Olneyville has put the giant mill building up for sale after backing out of a deal with the city and the Providence Redevelopment Agency to buy the sprawling property.
Those who work in the building say they are worried about being kicked out of one of the cheapest manufacturing, warehouse and office spaces in the city, which could mean the end of business for some of them.
Unlike downtown Providence, where offices have remained empty since the pandemic, the Atlantic Mills is almost full, with an estimated 88% of its occupiable space leased. Tenant businesses say that alternative spaces elsewhere in the city are far too expensive and lack the sense of community they prize at their current location.
“We call this a hidden gem,” said tenant Mike McNulty, who runs a woodshop there.
Real estate: ‘Hidden gem’: Pending sale of Atlantic Mills leaves tenants worried about their future
All summer long, American Mussel Harvesters’ 8-acre oyster farm south of the Jamestown Bridge sat idle.
The problem wasn’t the oysters. It was the 90-minute voyage to get there. And Adam Silkes, who oversees the operation, just couldn’t justify burning all that time and fuel.
Until a few years ago, American Mussel Harvesters kept its boats at a marina near the company’s Quonset headquarters, so shellfish only had a five-minute trip from dock to cooler. Then, according to Silkes, the cost of dock space more than doubled.
“It’s reaching crisis proportions, honestly,” said Bob Rheault, executive director of both the Ocean State Aquaculture Association and East Coast Shellfish Growers Association. If you can’t access your farm, he said, “it’s a death knell.”
Read the full story to learn what’s causing the shortage of affordable dock space, and what solutions are being proposed to protect the state’s aquaculture industry.
Local news: Rising prices leave oyster farmers, quahoggers searching for places to dock their boats
“It just makes sense to be a Republican in Rhode Island!” proclaims a whiteboard in the unassuming headquarters of the Rhode Island GOP.
GOP chairman Joe Powers, who came up with the slogan, argues that people are “sick and tired” after almost 90 years of Democratic rule. But when asked about the main obstacles that he faces when trying to enlist candidates, he answers bluntly: “Being a Republican in Rhode Island.”
Rhode Island voters have gone nearly two decades without electing a Republican to any of the state’s top offices or to Congress. And GOP members are shut out of many of the positions that typically serve as a pipeline to political advancement.
Political Scene explores how Powers and the state GOP’s new executive director, 22-year-old Aidan Carey, are trying to build the party’s bench and chip away at Democrats’ supermajority.
Political Scene: Is there a path for Republicans in RI? Inside the party’s effort to build its bench.
Journal columnist Mark Patinkin was scrolling through Instagram one day when he came across a post with stunning aerial nighttime footage of Providence, backed by classical music.
Curious about the person behind the page captured.by.marc, he tracked down Marc Bontemps, a Montreal native now living in Providence who wanted to show off the beauty of his adopted city. Bontemps became a licensed drone pilot, capturing images ranging from WaterFire to tugboats on Narragansett Bay, and he displayed his craft while being interviewed on Providence’s pedestrian bridge.
Mark Patinkin: Drone pilot’s videos hold Providence in the highest regard. How he works his aerial magic
To read the full stories, go to providencejournal.com. Find out how to subscribe here.
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