Letter: Legislators must end wasteful spending on blue signs

Posted 10/24/17

To the editor:

Attached photo is a new sign installed by (the R.I. Department of Transportation) yesterday (Oct. 23) at Route 114/Route 24 North/South. It is void of a start date, yet they know it …

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Letter: Legislators must end wasteful spending on blue signs

Posted

To the editor:

Attached photo is a new sign installed by (the R.I. Department of Transportation) yesterday (Oct. 23) at Route 114/Route 24 North/South. It is void of a start date, yet they know it will be done in fall 2018. Another sign to stare at for another year? 

I called RIDOT customer service to learn when RIDOT is starting this project on Route 24. This is the same project that had seven of the old signs which were removed two weeks ago. Those signs read, “Coming Fall 2017.” I consistently called RIDOT customer service when “fall 2017” started. This was to learn when in the fall 2017 the work would begin, from the old signs. They have not replied with a start date to numerous telephone requests.

It's time for the R.I. General Assembly East Bay legislators to stop this wasteful spending. Please craft a bill and have it passed as soon as possible to stop Director Alviti from wasting our Rhode Island gas tax money. Be advised, this is not a RhodeWorks project. RhodeWorks starts when the first truck toll is collected per the legislation attached.

My new campaign will get attention quickly — buy gas in Massachusetts! Later today I will learn the amount of the Rhode Island gas tax collected over the last three months and paid to RIDOT. I will concentrate on getting Rhode Island motorists to buy their gas in Massachusetts if no legislation is available, quickly. Funding RIDOT is crucial for our infrastructure repairs. Wasting our gas tax money on a silly sign campaign is ludicrous and is now going to cost RIDOT.

I’m available for discussion (401/952-1953) any time. I invite your questions and comments. The majority of you know I do not go away! I will be a constant, very vocal opponent of wasteful spending at RIDOT on this nonsense sign campaign.

$657 x 215 = $141,255 is the amount of the previous RIDOT blue signs wasted. $4.3 million wasted on the Sakonnet River Bridge debacle.

Please do not delay. This will get the support of the Rhode Island motorist that want repaired roads, not signs. However I can help craft this legislation, I am a phone call/e-mail away.

John Vitkevich

119 Hummock Ave.

Portsmouth 

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