Rep. Sredzinski Signs Petition to Stop Governor’s $10M Toll Study

MONROE, CT --State Representative JP Sredzinski (R-112) signed a petition this week to request a special session for the purpose of prohibiting the expenditure of taxpayer funds to study and evaluate the establishment of tolls in Connecticut.

Last week, Governor Dan Malloy issued an Executive Order directing the state Department of Transportation to prepare a plan implementing tolls and study its impacts. He is requesting to borrow $10 million for the study from the Bond Commission, which he chairs.

The study would explore tolls on all major Connecticut highways, including Interstates 95, 91, and 84, along with the Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways. This past spring, the legislature refused to consider a similar study costing only $5 million.

“In an effort to prevent expenditure of taxpayer money on something so unnecessary, I am joining my colleagues in attempting legislative action to explicitly prohibit using taxpayer money to study tolls,” said Rep. Sredzinski. “To proceed with a $10 million toll study when the legislature refused to consider a similar study – that only costed $5 million – this past spring, is to ignore the public opposition against another layer of revenue collection on the people of Connecticut. While the governor has the power to issue executive orders, as he did to commission the study, the legislature still has the power to block funds in response. We have to protect taxpayers and commuters from a plan that would make Connecticut even less affordable.”

Rep. JP Sredzinski represents the 112th General Assembly district, which includes Monroe and part of Newtown, and serves as Ranking Member on the General Assembly’s Public Safety Committee.