PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Transportation officials in Rhode Island say the state won’t begin its new truck tolls until at least the end of May, a delay that’s expected to cost the state an estimated $20 million in lost revenue.
The Providence Journal reports that Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr. told lawmakers Thursday the department is still testing tolls. He says the governor wants to be absolutely sure they’re functioning correctly before they go online.
Officials had initially said they planned to begin tolling large commercial trucks by December, and then pushed that back to March.
Lawmakers authorized the 14-toll system in 2016 to pay to rebuild crumbling roads and bridges. The trucking industry has vigorously opposed the tolls, but Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo said big rig trucks cause the most damage to roads.
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