Gov. Lamont releases truck toll rates, but plan faces uncertainty

Tractor-trailers could pay up to $12.80 per bridge in tolls under a new plan released by Gov. Ned Lamont's office Friday afternoon.

News 12 Staff

Dec 6, 2019, 10:28 PM

Updated 1,602 days ago

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Tractor-trailers could pay up to $12.80 per bridge in tolls under a new plan released by Gov. Ned Lamont's office Friday afternoon.
Smaller trucks would pay considerably less under the proposal. But the entire 'trucks-only' plan faces uncertainty after a court ruling in Rhode Island.
A federal judge revived the trucking industry's lawsuit against that state's tolls Thursday, creating a potential roadblock for similar tolls in Connecticut.
State Rep. Laura Devlin thinks trucks-only tolls will land Connecticut in court for years, and that the new ruling is adding fuel to the fire.
"The Rhode Island ruling adds more question to the whole ability to go down a path of trucks-only tolling," said Rep. Devlin.
Gov. Lamont says his plan will keep trucking along, and that the new ruling is only "procedural."
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimando agrees.
"I think we're still going to win the merits of the case, and we're still tolling, the gantries are still tolling," she said. "It just says that, for legal reasons, they want to hear it in federal court instead of state court, which is fine."
The trucking industry is promising a lawsuit in Connecticut as well if the state proceeds.
"The plan that's being pitched by the House Democrats is exactly the type of thing that the trucking industry is suing the state of Rhode Island for, so I don't understand at all how there's no legal peril," said Joe Sculley of Motor Transport Association of CT.
Critics say if the courts strike down trucks-only tolls, everyone will end up paying once toll readers are in place.


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