CT Indefinitely Postpones $4.3 Billion In Transportation Projects

HARTFORD, CT — Gov. Dannel Malloy warned Wednesday that $4.3 billion in Department of Transportation projects could be postponed indefinitely unless more money is added to the Special Transportation Fund.

The fund is set to be in a deficit by July 1, 2018 if no action is taken. It funds the state’s transportation system including the DOT and all the services it provides.

“If Connecticut does not take the necessary action to allow us to restart these vital projects, not only will it put the state’s infrastructure into a further state of disrepair, it will hurt our economy,” Malloy said.
Improvements to the I-91/Route 15 interchange on the Charter Oak Bridge would be cancelled along with the Waterbury Mixmaster project and widening of I-95 between Bridgeport and Stamford.

State Representative Tony Guerrera who co-chairs the Transportation Committee suggested instituting tolls or finding another stable source of revenue to avert the mass project shutdown.

“This isn’t a problem that can be punted until future years. Connecticut needs immediate action,” DOT Commissioner James Redeker said. “As Governor Malloy noted last month, the solvency of the Special Transportation Fund is in doubt without new revenues. In real terms, that means we need to postpone indefinitely important projects today.”

Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano said that the state's transportation woes didn't come out of nowhere and that Malloy and Democrats took $164 million over the past four years from Special Transportation Fund to balance budgets.

"Now, Gov. Malloy and Democrats are trying to use the problem they created to force the legislature to approve new taxes and more burdens on commuters," Fasano said. "That has been their game plan all along."

There are also a number of non-specific projects that would be postponed such as a number of bridge and paving projects, replacement of signage and guardrail replacement.

Cuts to the rail fleet that are scheduled to take place in 2019 and 2021 would exceed $550 million alone.

Among some of the projects being indefinitely postponed are:

• Tunnel improvements on Route 15 in Woodbridge/New Haven (More than $200 million)
• Rehabilitation of CT 130 bridge over Pequonnock River in Bridgeport ($30 million)
• Widening of I-95 between Stamford and Bridgeport ($99 million)
• Construction between exits 3 and 8 on I-84 in Danbury ($57.5 million)
• Bridgeport Barnum Station ($100 million)
• Safety improvements on Mystic River Bridge on I-95 ($60 million)
• Reconfigure I-91/Route 15 interchange ($228 million)
• I-84 viaduct replacement ($105 million)
• Madison Railroad Station and Garage ($32 million)
• Remove traffic signals on Route 9 in Middletown ($75 million)
• New Haven parking garage ($55 million)
• Resurfacing, bridge and safety improvements Route 15 in Norwalk ($85 million)
• Orange Metro-North railroad station ($34 million)
• Stamford parking garage ($55 million)
• Construction operational lanes I-84 in West Hartford ($65 million)

See the full list of affected projects here.

Image via Shutterstock