Toll Bill Passes Transportation Committee, Trumbull Rep. Devlin Says It's a Bad Idea

The state legislature’s Transportation Committee passed a measure that is another step toward tolls in Connecticut.

The bill would require the state commissioner of transportation to develop a program to implement tolls, collect revenue and figure out operating costs and revenue among other things.

Related:

Tolls Once Again Discussed in Connecticut

State Rep. Laura Devlin (Fairfield and Trumbull) said she encourages people to contact legislators and Governor Dannel Malloy’s office with thoughts and concerns about tolls in the state.

“I am opposed to re-instituting tolls in Connecticut. I continue to believe tolls are bad public policy for our state,” she said in a release. “Connecticut residents are already facing a whole list of new taxes and fees with the Governor’s proposed budget. These added taxes from tolls just make it tougher to live in our state. I cannot support a proposal that makes it tougher for people to get to school or work.”

Devlin said she worries about traffic effects on secondary roads, particularly the Post Road in Fairfield and Route 111 in Trumbull.

A number of border town state legislatures have decried tolls and said they will place an unfair burden on residents in those areas.

State Rep. Tony Guerrera (Rocky Hill) who is chairman of the Transportation Committee said a study shows that the state could bring in $20 billion over 30 years with tolls, the majority of which would come from out-of-state drivers.

The Transportation Committee also passed the “lock box” bill that would ensure funds collected for transportation projects go specifically to transportation projects.

“I want to thank Governor Malloy for embracing the transportation lockbox concept and hopefully ending the practice of using funds earmarked for transportation for non-transportation purposes,” Devlin said. “Transportation is always on the minds of us in Fairfield County this bill starts the conversation on investing in our transportation infrastructure.”