Rhode Island’s truck toll revenues higher than expected

A tractor trailer truck rolls beneath a toll gantry on the first day that Rhode Island began collecting tolls on large trucks, June 11, 2018. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation says the state’s truck toll system has charged more trucks and brought in more money than expected in the first six months.

When the state launched the first two truck tolls on Interstate 95 on June 11, the state’s traffic studies estimated 177,292 tractor-trailers would pass under the toll gantries each month for $598,667 in monthly charges.

The Providence Journal reports that through six months ending Dec. 10, the tolls have averaged 186,698 big rigs charged per month and $617,805 in billable charges.

The trucking industry had predicted that truckers would take alternate routes to avoid the tolls.

Another 10 truck tolls are scheduled to be built on highways across the state between this May and May 2020.

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