Resounding 'No' On Tolls Voiced By Stamford Board Of Reps

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Board of Representatives Monday sent a resounding signal to Gov. Ned Lamont and other state officials by voting overwhelmingly against tolls in the state.

Though the resolution is non-binding, the 26-9 bipartisan vote shows how strong the opposition to tolls is in one of Connecticut's largest cities.

Gov. Lamont, who campaigned on a plan to toll trucks, is now also considering across-the-board tolls for all vehicles. Connecticut residents would receive a discount on tolls; the revenue from tolls would be used to improve the state's crumbling infrastructure.

Stamford Board of Representatives member Steven Kolenberg, a Republican, authored the resolution, which acknowledges that Connecticut's roads need repairs, but says the state should find other means to fund those improvements.

"WHEREAS, the residents of Connecticut already pay more in taxes and fees than most residents in other states around the country," the resolution also states.

Kolenberg told Patch that he has heard from constituents that they were unhappy about tolls.

"They viewed it as another expense on top of the multitude of taxes and fees they already pay to the State," he said. "They reached out to the Board and a few of us decided to put this resolution together to help give those folks a voice."

The Hartford Courant writes that the resolution received support from seven Republicans and 19 Democrats.

"I'd be happy to speak with any member of our state delegation as well as a member of Gov. Lamonts team," Kolenberg said about the resolution. "No one has reached out to me yet, but the door is always open if they want to talk.

"I think the Stamford resolution in itself is a strong statement and sends the message we wanted to Hartford. What we need now is other towns to stand up to Hartford and demand they not place the burden of tolls on their neighbors."

Below is the text of the resolution:

WHEREAS, the Governor and many members of the State Legislature have signaled support for the placement of tolls on Connecticut’s major roadways; and

WHEREAS, many of the residents of Stamford use these roadways each day for work, family obligations and pleasure and spend a significant amount of time on these traffic congested roads; and

WHEREAS, the Residents of Connecticut deserve, and the future prosperity of our state depends on the establishment and maintenance of a world class transportation infrastructure, the costs of the implementation of such infrastructure ought not be largely funded by those [who] cannot afford to pay it, but by means and ideas meant to relieve the citizenry of that burden; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of tolls will result in a significant amount of traffic on Stamford’s roads as drivers attempt to avoid the cost burden; and

WHEREAS, the residents of Connecticut already pay more in taxes and fees than most residents in other states around the country.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Representatives of the City of Stamford is opposed to the imposition of tolls on its residents and urges its elected representatives in the State Legislature to oppose any measure that would impose tolls on our constituents.

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