The state of Rhode Island is expecting to make $40 million off of truck-only tolls in the first full year of the program.
A budget proposal brought forth by Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee included millions in revenue collected from truck-only tolls, which are expected to be reinstated sometime in July of 2025. Truck-only tolling was halted in the state back in 2022, but was allowed to resume again without discounted rates for local trucking companies after a December 2024 ruling.
“The cap, as you know, was ruled unconstitutional — we don’t have anything in the budget on that,” said Brian Daniels, director of the R.I. Office of Management and Budget.
An estimated $10 million is expected to be collected in 2025 once the truck tolling resumes, with an estimated $40 million over the course of 2026, reported 12 WPRI.
“One thing we need to be careful about the court decision is not disproportionately benefiting one group over another, but this gives us some opportunity to figure out what’s the best way to do it in an equitable way,” Daniels said.
RIDOT is currently working on inspecting all of its tolling equipment, and implementing upgrades to its equipment and back-end system. New software contracts will also need to be put in place before tolls can resume. There is not yet a specific date for the resuming of truck tolls.