AASHTO Journal, 30 October 2015
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation released a 10-year transportation projects vision that replaces a four-year horizon RIDOT previously used. It also highlights a gap between what the department seeks to achieve in project improvements and what is possible with current funding levels.
The department made clear that eventual acceptance of the plan by the Federal Highway Administration – which will be needed by Oct. 1, 2016 – depends on the state General Assembly approving Gov. Gina Raimondo’s “RhodeWorks” proposal that would increase fees on large commercial vehicles traveling through the state.
Her proposal would raise a projected $1 billion in new state and federal project funding, about half of that by levying bridge tolls just on big trucks at bridges throughout Rhode Island that are not now tolled.
RIDOT said large commercial trucks are responsible for more than 70 percent of vehicle-caused damage to the state’s roadway infrastructure, but only pay 20 percent of the system’s maintenance costs.
The governor’s plan would also mainly affect cargo trucks from outside Rhode Island, RIDOT said, since “the majority of the large commercial vehicles traveling on the state’s roads and bridges are registered out of state.”
The freight shipping industry, including truckers and some large firms that rely on truck shipments, has pushed back against the idea.
Inside the RIDOT 10-year plan, which would run from fiscal 2016 through 2025, the agency said current funding sources would provide it $3.8 billion to spend on infrastructure over the period.
However, it said: “The RhodeWorks-supported plan totals $4.7 billion and includes additional investment in pavement, transit and transportation alternatives (such as bike paths, pedestrian facilities, and ADA facilities), along with a robust short-term investment in bridge repair, reconstruction and preventative maintenance.”
The 10-year plan must be approved by the State Planning Council as part of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program and by the FHWA in order to have continued access to federal funding.
RIDOT’s Oct. 23 announcement said this plan “will accelerate Rhode Island’s economic comeback,” and save money compared with taking longer to bring bridges up to the preferred condition.
“Plan your work and work your plan, that’s what we’re doing at RIDOT,” said Director Peter Alviti. “A predictable and reliable capital program is a critically important part of putting RIDOT’s house in order and the state’s roads and bridges back into good shape.”