New CT Toll Proposals Call For Certain Discounts

The proposed toll package that is working its way through the state legislature could include discounts for E-Z Pass holders and frequent commuters. The proposal has had many commuters in the state wondering how much more it will cost to drive on top of high gas and car taxes.

Current proposals include a 20 percent discount for E-Z Pass holders and 30 percent discount for commuters on a certain amount of trips per year, said House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz. A reduction in state income tax and the gas tax is also being talked about.

There would also be an increased toll charge for large vehicles such as 18-wheeler trucks, which damage Connecticut roads at a 20 to 1 ratio compared to cars, Aresimowicz said.

“They are the ones really beating up our roads, and they are passing through Connecticut almost free,” he said at a Tuesday press conference.

Tolls would be placed on I-95, I-91, I-84 and the Merritt/Wilbur Cross parkways. Other state routes could be tolled as well.

Current proposals call for roughly $1.3 billion to be brought in per year by tolls in total with roughly $400 million coming from in-state residents.

A proposal document obtained by NBC Connecticut laid out possible costs. A trip from the New York State line to New Haven would cost $1.72 during off-peak times and $2.16 during on-peak. A trip from Wallingford to New Haven would cost 44-cents off-peak and 53-cents on-peak.

This year’s toll bill would authorize the state Department of Transportation to come up with a full toll proposal. That proposal would then have to go before the state House and Senate for approval. The DOT proposal would also need federal approval due to tolling rules, which call for certain things such as on-peak, off-peak pricing.

Connecticut’s tolling system would be all-electronic. Motorists would be billed on E-Z Pass accounts or by mail.

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