Should Connecticut bring back highway tolls?
A group of Connecticut residents thinks so, recommending the state implement interstate highway tolls to help reduce property taxes and potentially eliminate the annual motor vehicle tax.
The recommendation is among 10 proposals included in the Connecticut Citizens' Assembly on Property Taxes' final report, released in October.
The Citizens' Assembly has weighed in, but Patch wants to hear from you. Share your thoughts on whether highway tolls should return to Connecticut in a brief survey.
The assembly brought together approximately 100 residents from across Connecticut to study the state's property tax system and develop recommendations for reform.
According to the report, a 2023 state analysis estimated that highway tolls could generate approximately $950 million annually, with roughly 40 percent of the revenue coming from out-of-state drivers.
The group acknowledged that federal restrictions generally require toll revenue to be spent on eligible transportation expenses. Its proposal would instead use toll revenue to cover transportation costs, freeing up other state funds that lawmakers could dedicate to property tax relief.
The proposal would require legislative action, applicable federal approvals and investment in electronic tolling infrastructure.
Connecticut once collected tolls along major highways, including Interstate 95, the Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways, and several bridges.
Tolls helped finance highway construction and maintenance, but traditional toll plazas became increasingly controversial because of traffic congestion, delays and safety concerns.
A deadly crash at the Stratford toll plaza on Interstate 95 in January 1983 intensified calls for their removal. Seven people were killed when a tractor-trailer struck vehicles waiting at the toll booths.
Connecticut subsequently began eliminating toll plazas, ending toll collection on the Connecticut Turnpike in 1985 and on the Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways in 1988.
The state's final highway toll was collected on the Charter Oak Bridge in Hartford on April 28, 1989.
The decision was also influenced by federal highway funding considerations, which helped the state finance infrastructure improvements after tolls were removed.
The Citizens' Assembly proposal would represent a significant change in how Connecticut raises revenue.
Unlike the traditional toll booths removed decades ago, modern electronic tolling systems can collect payments without requiring drivers to stop.
However, the assembly acknowledged that bringing back tolls could increase costs for Connecticut residents who regularly use highways, particularly commuters.
The group suggested lawmakers consider discounts or credits for Connecticut residents and frequent highway users, while noting that those measures could reduce the revenue available for tax relief.
The proposal also calls for annual public audits detailing toll collections, operating costs and the corresponding funds dedicated to property tax relief.
All 10 recommendations in the assembly's final report received the required two-thirds support from participating members. The recommendations are expected to be discussed with state lawmakers ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
For now, tolls remain a recommendation rather than an approved policy. The Connecticut Department of Transportation says there are currently no tolling locations or plans to introduce them.
Patch wants to know whether Connecticut residents support bringing back highway tolls and what concerns they have about the proposal.
Responses may be featured in a future article.
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