Toll War: New York Lawmaker To Target CT Drivers If Tolls OK'd

CONNECTICUT — Uh-oh. A New York lawmaker is incensed over Gov. Ned Lamont's plan to place tolls on trucks including near the New York border on Interstate I-684. Most of I-684 is in New York but just under two miles is found in Connecticut.

State Sen. Pete Harckham, of Westchester, NY, blasted Lamont at a press conference on Monday saying Lamont is trying to create a "toll war" between New York and Connecticut, and that if Lamont proceeds with his plan then he'll be forced to submit legislation calling for several new tolls to be placed all along the Connecticut border including where the Hutchinson River Parkway meets the Merritt Parkway.

He said for years Connecticut residents have been utilizing New York roads and that has contributed to wear and tear that New York has had to pay for. He stressed that he doesn't want to toll Connecticut residents but said Lamont may leave New York no choice.

He said Lamont's plan is "ill-conceived" and he called Lamont "arrogant" for thinking he can place a toll on I-684, which is mostly in New York. Harckham stressed that he likes Connecticut and doesn't want to do this.

"This is his version of the border wall. This is a plan that no one wants. It's ill-conceived and he's pushing ahead with it anyhow," Harckham said.

Harckham added that his mother and brother both live in Connecticut and that he "likes Connecticut" but added "The governor, maybe not so much" before adding he was "kidding."

Harckham called Lamont "arrogant" for ignoring New York lawmakers who wrote to him recently about their concerns. He said the toll on I-684 would cost New York businesses and truckers about $7 million and the cost of doing business in New York is already significant enough.

Harckham called on state officials to work together to address transportation issues for both New York and Connecticut.

Lamont earlier this month proposed following Rhode Island's lead with commercial truck tolls on 12 bridges. He noted that the U.S. General Accounting Office and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials found that a five-axle tractor-trailer does as much damage to highways as 9,600 passenger cars.

The average toll rate for a truck equipped with a transponder would be $8, according to details released by Lamont.

The locations of the tolls would be as follows:

• I-95 in five spots ranging from lower Fairfield County to the Gold Star Bridge. Specifically, I-95 Over Stamford Metro-North Railroad, I-95 Over Rt. 33, I-95 Over West Haven Metro-North Railroad, I-95 Over Rt. 161, and I-95 Gold Star Bridge Over Thames River
• I-395: I-395 Over Moosup River
• I-684: I-684 Over Byram River
• Route 8: Route 8 Four Bridges South of I-84 Interchange
• I-91/Route 15 interchange: I-91/Route 15 New Interchange 29 Structures at Charter Oak Bridge
• I-84 over the Housatonic River and the Rt. 8 interchange. Specifically, I-84 Rochambeau Bridge Over Housatonic River and I-84 Stack Bridges at I-84 & Rt. 8 Interchange.

"Action on this consensus proposal will allow Connecticut to invest at least $19.4 billion in our infrastructure with more to come if the Budget Reserve Fund exceeds the responsible, bipartisan threshold of 15 percent," Lamont has said.

The General Assembly is expected to address Lamont's trucks-only tolling plan in January.

Patch editor Rich Scinto contributed to this story.