Ruling Allows Rhode Island Truck Toll Program to Resume

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has ruled that Rhode Island's truck tolling program, RhodeWorks, is constitutional, provided that daily toll caps favoring in-state truckers are removed. This decision reverses a previous ruling from 2022 that deemed the program unconstitutional. The court found that while the caps were discriminatory, the rest of the tolling system does not infringe on the Commerce Clause and can proceed without them. The ruling has sparked mixed reactions; Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha praised it as beneficial for the state's infrastructure funding, while critics argue it could harm local businesses and the economy. The Rhode Island Trucking Association expressed concerns that removing the caps would increase the cost of goods for residents. The state previously collected about $101 million from the tolls, which were used for transportation projects.