The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has announced it has initiated a request for proposals (RFP) process to solicit proposals from firms for the Rhode Island's truck-only tolling program.

This competitive process seeks a firm to design and build the tolling facilities and associated infrastructure to fund the reconstruction of deficient bridges throughout Rhode Island (US). The selected firm also will be required to operate and maintain the toll facilities to ensure they function properly.

The tolling locations throughout Rhode Island will feature all-electronic tolling, and only large commercial trucks will be charged a toll. There will be no toll booths and no stopping to pay tolls. No passenger vehicles will be tolled.

In October 2016, RIDOT executed 13 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), one for each tolling location on both state bridges and interstate bridges. A 14th MOU for the Providence Viaduct will be executed once the existing environmental mitigation requirements for the project are satisfied.

The truck-only tolling was signed into law by Governor Raimondo on February 11, 2016 with the passage of the Rhode Island Bridge Replacement, Reconstruction and Maintenance Fund Act, better known as "RhodeWorks". Through RhodeWorks, RIDOT is authorized to toll large commercial trucks in order to fund, in part, the replacement or reconstruction of bridges throughout the state.

RIDOT expects to award a contract in Spring 2017. Construction of the tolling facilities will take approximately a year and half to build, reaching completion by the end of 2018.

RIDOT director Peter Alviti, Jr. said:

"Rhode Island has the worst bridges in America. While tolling revenues will provide approximately 10% of RIDOT's overall funding, it is a vital component that allows us to fast track bringing the state's bridges into a state of good repair within ten years."