New Toll Proposal Details Released

HARTFORD, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont once again made the case for electronic tolling of all vehicles as he stood near the aging Interstate-84 Viaduct in Hartford that has become a symbol of Connecticut’s transportation woes.

Lamont has faced some criticism after he offered the state legislature a proposal that would include tolls on all vehicles. He campaigned on the truck-only option, but said he will give the state legislature truck-only and all-vehicle options.

Studies show truck-only tolls would bring in a maximum of $200 million per year. Rhode Island is facing legal challenges over its truck-only tolls. A court ruling that truck-only tolls can only be used on bridges in need of repair is likely, Lamont said, which would further curtail revenue even further. Tolling on all vehicles could bring in up to $800 million a year for the state with more than 40 percent of the revenue coming from out-of-state drivers.

The rates for tolls aren’t known yet. A study is due later this year that could shed some more light. A previous study suggested tolls on I-95, I-84, Route 15, I-91, I-395, Route 8, Route 9, I-691 and I-291, but Lamont’s proposal calls for them on I-95, I-84, portions of Route 15 and I-91.

The study offered options for commuter discounts, Connecticut E-Z Pass holders and on and off-peak travel. An on-peak trip from New Haven to Hartford on I-91 would cost $1.67 and a trip from New Haven to the New York State border would cost $2.11 on I-95 with the commuter discount. Under that study a New Haven to New York commuter would pay around $1,000 a year assuming round trips five days a week for nearly the full year.

Lamont said he wants to work closely with the legislature on figuring out a solution to the state’s transportation issues.

“I’ve got a different relationship with the legislature than maybe they were used to in the past.I really want them at the table involved in what we are trying to do,” he said. “I think at the end of the day if we are going to really try to accelerate our roads and bridges, accelerate Metro North, getting this state going again we need a broader tolling system, we ought to get started on that now.”

The governor’s legislative proposal would have toll funds deposited into the Special Transportation Fund, which would be mandatory under the recently-passed state constitutional amendment commonly known as the transportation lock box. Federal law also limits toll revenue to be used for transportation maintenance and upgrades. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here.)

Studies show that there is a $1.9 billion economic impact from traffic in the state’s three biggest metro areas with drivers spending 81 million hours a year in delays.

Truck-only tolls would help with routine maintenance, but wouldn’t be enough for major infrastructure upgrades such as replacing the I-84 Viaduct in Hartford or making improvements to the congested I-95 corridor in lower Fairfield County, Lamont said.

The I-84 Viaduct has come to represent many of the shortcomings of Connecticut’s aging transportation infrastructure; It’s old, over-capacity, divides communities and requires millions of dollars in ongoing maintenance just to keep it from falling apart.

The Viaduct was built about 50 years ago and is now transporting 175,000 vehicles per day, which is three times what it was designed for, said Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti.

A study currently in the works will look at moving the viaduct to ground level or underground, Giulietti said. That would open up land for transit-oriented economic development opportunities. He noted that Grand Central Station in New York City was originally an above-ground operation and moving much of it below ground opened up the surrounding area to development.

See also: Popular Pizza Place Closes After More Than 6 Decades In Business

Connecticut Native Stuns The Crowd At Concert At Madison Square Garden

U.S. Congressman Makes Pizza, Delivery For Connecticut Pizzeria

68 Years Later ... Connecticut Veteran's Memory Decorated By Congress