FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2021
NEWPORT PELL BRIDGE TOLLS SHIFTING TO ALL- ELECTRONIC TOLLING FOR 4-WEEK PILOT PROGRAM
Motorists heading eastbound during 4-week program will not be able to pay tolls by cash or credit card.
JAMESTOWN, R.I. – The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) will test the feasibility of all-electronic tolling at the Newport Pell Bridge with a 4-week pilot program on the eastbound side. This pilot program will not be RITBA’s first all-electronic tolling initiative. RITBA transitioned to all-electronic tolling in March 2020 for travel on the Bridge in both directions from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m., which remains in place. The 4-week pilot program is an extension of the existing cashless operations.
Starting February 14, 2021, RITBA will direct all traffic heading eastbound (towards Newport) through lanes that accommodate E-ZPass and bill by mail transactions. This will necessitate some toll booth lane closures. During the 4-week program, motorists heading eastbound will not be able to pay tolls by cash or credit card. Signs will direct motorists to keep moving and not to stop to ensure traffic safety.
The tolls will be collected utilizing the existing open road tolling (ORT) technology. This technology reads E-ZPass transponders for tolling. If a vehicle does not have a transponder, a bill will be mailed to the address of the registered owner of the vehicle. The billed toll amount will be the same as if the vehicle was paying at the toll booth with cash or credit card. However, if the invoice is not paid on time, fees will be applied.
The tolls can be paid via mail, at the dropbox located at the Jamestown office, online at www.ezpassritba.com, or over the phone Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-877-743-9727. RITBA is encouraging customers to sign up for E-ZPass and utilize the online tools available to manage their accounts and pay for tolls, as call volume is expected to increase as a result of these changes. RITBA is asking its existing customers to log in to their accounts and update all vehicle, address, and credit card information to avoid unpaid tolls.
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CONTACT:
Bianca Costantino,
bcostantino@rdwgroup.com
401.521.2700
