Federal officials reject RI's I-95 toll plan

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- The Federal Highway Administration has balked at Rhode Island's plan to place tolls on Interstate 95.

FHA officials on Friday chose North Carolina as the last of three states eligible to place tolls on interstates to raise money for highway construction and maintenance projects.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee's administration asked in June for permission to place tollbooths on I-95 near the Connecticut border.

Officials in Connecticut were quick to oppose the proposal, saying it would unfairly burden motorists from their state. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut on Friday said the FHA "did the right thing" by choosing North Carolina's proposal instead.

Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Michael Lewis said the state will continue to study the toll proposal with the hope it's approved in future rounds of toll projects.

(Copyright (c) 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)