Op-Ed: 'Tolls,' by Toni Boucher

"Tolls"

by Toni Boucher

My message to the State Legislature's Transportation Committee includes the following reasons to oppose the toll bill they are determined to pass.

• Tolls are a regressive tax that hurts those less able to pay it.
• ·States with tolls do not have a car property tax and many other CT taxes.
• Tolls will be an additional burden on a weak economy, citizens and businesses that have yet to recoup from the recession.
• Adding to the cost of commuting is another disincentive to move to the state. The bill does not mention what tax will be eliminated if tolls are put in place.
• Connecticut already has a high gas tax and a high diesel fuel tax. Unlike tolls these taxes cover everyone that drives.
• Trucks already pay high diesel taxes and a pass- through tax of over $17 million a year. Will goods and services cost more due to a truck toll? Will the revenue from the truck pass- through tax go away?
• The diversionary traffic will clough our already congested side streets and Route 1. The additional costs of repairing local roads will fall on towns as trucks bypass the tolls as they do in MA and NY.
• Toll experts tell us that DOT cost estimates are severally underestimated. Connecticut estimates a 1 cent per transaction cost when experts in New York tell us that it takes 5- 8 cents to process toll fees and 50% more gantries construction.
• Tolls would be built in at least 12 locations. Nothing in the bill stops the state from building additional toll locations in the future.
• Trucks will have to pay right but, cars could be next through a loophole in the bill.
• The revenue forecasts in the bill fall short of what will be needed to pay for road and bridge improvements. Higher toll fees and more gantries will be in our future because protections in the bill are not enough to stop future car tolling.
• The state has lost the trust of the public when it comes to protecting fees for their intended purpose. Examples include state raids on tobacco, energy and other funds.
• The 684 toll puts CT taxpayers at risk for lawsuits from the trucking industry (i.e. Rhode Island) and legal challenges from the state of NY.
• The decision to raise rates will be in the hands of a new state Transportation Council. Lawmakers will not have to hold a vote to increase toll rates and answer to taxpayers. And there’s nothing taxpayers or lawmakers can do to stop them.
• There is no sunset clause. Once in place, tolls will not go away and can expand without public input.
• It borrows more than the Republican no-tolls transportation plan, putting more debt on future generations.

Finally, the public does not know the numbers or which transportation projects will be funded, and which projects have been eliminated. There is no explanation of if and how the Special Transportation Fund would remain in balance and how high toll fees will go. The public will have no say over future toll hikes nor where toll revenue will be used. The DOT and its Council will make all the decisions.

Toni Boucher

Wilton

Toni Boucher is a CT businesswoman, former State Senator and State Representative and, a Leader of the State's Transportation Committee.