by Tara Granahan, WPRO
Minutes after the State Traffic Commission voted down a proposal Thursday that would bar tractor-trailers from driving on certain state roads,
Chris Maxwell, President of the RI Trucking Association, told WPRO’s Tara Granahan this was a victory of sorts for the trucking industry. “Sounds like someone at the State House is finally listening”, Maxwell said. That proposed ban included 15 roads, many of which would allow the truck drivers to avoid new toll gantries, which are expected to start collecting money by the end of the year.
Maxwell’s previous statement in response to the RI Department of Transportation calling this a “safety” issue: “RIDOT has taken their next shot in its ongoing war against the trucking industry. By restricting well-traveled truck routes statewide in an attempt to prevent diversion around tolls, they are choking our state’s supply chain and economy and, in the end, harming the consumers of Rhode Island – all to prop up their failed plan.”
“Let’s be very clear – our roads and bridges are not in their present condition because of trucks. RIDOT failed for decades to deliver on its mission to provide safe and roads and bridges, and now they are pivoting to blame trucks for their ineptitude and malfeasance.”
The State Traffic Commission voted 3-2 against that proposal.
Hear the entire interview here:
