Several New Taxes, Tolls Pitched By Malloy

HARTFORD, CT — Gov. Dannel Malloy proposed several new taxes including electronic tolling in order to repair and upgrade Connecticut’s decrepit transportation infrastructure.

Malloy proposed raising the gasoline tax by seven cents up to 32 cents per gallon. The tax hasn’t changed since it was lowered to 25 cents in 1997. The move would help stabilize the Special Transportation Fund until electronic tolling could be implemented, Malloy said.

“Without new revenues this year, we face a transportation cliff,” he said. “We will be forced to make draconian cutbacks, affecting even routine maintenance.”

Malloy projected that electronic tolling would begin by fiscal year 2023 and would bring in $500 to $600 million per year. He said that Connecticut can learn about tolling by copying the numerous other states that have already implemented it.

He added that Connecticut has more frequent and available entrances and exits than other neighboring highways such as the Mass Turnpike. He added that when he was mayor of Stamford he would often use I-95 for a single exit to avoid downtown traffic in the city.

"So we have to look at a system that probably has more catchment area," Malloy said.

The average Connecticut commuter spends about 41 hours of his or her life in congestion per year, Malloy said. That is independent of delays caused by road construction or crashes. He referred to I-95 as a “parking lot” in some parts of the state and the Merritt Parkway as a “museum.”

Malloy also proposed a $3 fee for every tire purchase and to accelerate the transfer of car sales tax by two years.

Tolling is sure to be a hot-button issue during the upcoming legislative session. The idea came up last year, but was abandoned without a vote after it became clear there wasn't enough support.

Republican candidate for governor Tim Herbst blasted Malloy's proposal.

"This governor has demonstrated a pathological commitment to hiking taxes and fees on struggling Connecticut families and businesses," Herbst said. "At every juncture his insider allies in Hartford have been eager to comply."

Ned Lamont, who said he is running for governor said he supports Malloy's decision for electronic tolling.

"For too many years, Connecticut residents have been at a major disadvantage as our neighboring states collect tolls and we offer the use of our roads and bridges for free," he said.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, who is a Republican gubernatorial candidate said Malloy's proposal is a slap in the face to every Connecticut resident.

"We are already among the highest-taxed states in the nation and losing population at an alarming rate," he said.

Earlier in January Malloy indefinitely postponed $4.3 billion in transportation infrastructure projects including improvements to the Charter Oak Bridge, the replacement of the Waterbury Mixmaster and the widening of I-95 between Bridgeport and Stamford. Malloy also said that rail fare would have to increase 20 percent and bus fare by five percent without his proposed fee and tax increases.

“The combination of immediate and long term additional revenue provided by the Governor’s recommendations represents a solution to maintaining our commitment to operate a safe highway, bus and rail transportation network and to avoid serious deterioration of our state and municipal transportation infrastructure,” said state Department of Transportation Commissioner James P. Redeker.

Image via Susan Haigh/AP