RI legislators offer plan to avoid additional bridge tolls

By Bruce Landis Two East Bay legislators, Sen. Louis P. DiPalma, D-Little Compton, and Rep. John G. Edwards, D-Portsmouth, filed legislation to avoid additional tolls on the state's bridges by transferring motor vehicle inspection fees, vehicle insurance taxes, insurance violation fees and other sources to a bridge maintenance fund.

The plan would also involve a dramatic change in the governance of the state's bridges: 19 bridges in seven communities would be added to the four already under the Turnpike and Bridge Authority, an announcement from the legislative press office said.

A heated controversy about the state's plans to collect tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge has caused a flurry of interest among East Bay legislators in sources of alternative bridge maintenance revenue.