Posts by MTAC Staff
Senate approves two-year, $43 billion state budget; Gov. Lamont expected to sign
From The Hartford Courant. The state Senate approved a two-year, $43 billion budget Tuesday night with Democrats hailing the plan as fiscally prudent and Republicans blasting the package as a bad deal with too many tax increases. The 567-page budget, which passed in the House of Representatives late Monday night, closes a projected deficit of…
Read MoreLamont lacking on specifics over paid FMLA; Gets started on compromise
From CT News Junkie. It’s been a week since Gov. Ned Lamont threatened to veto the Paid Family and Medical Leave bill approved by the Senate, and as of Wednesday morning House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz said the governor has offered no specifics as to how to resolve the conflict and get the bill passed. “I…
Read MoreIn another shift, Lamont wants regular session vote on tolls
From CT Post. Gov. Ned Lamont has asked lawmakers to fast-track electronic highway tolls, reversing a previous position to let the issue slide for a special session after the June 5 adjournment of the General Assembly. In meetings with majority Democratic leaders this week, Lamont asked for them to return his signature legislation to the…
Read MoreI-91 NB Exit 28 to close from tonight (May 29) for two years
From CT DOT. The closure is necessary to facilitate the first major stage of construction activity (lowering of southbound Routes 5/15 under I-91), and will last approximately two years. From tonight, Wednesday night, May 29, detour signs will direct I-91 northbound motorists seeking Routes 5/15 southbound at Exit 28 to follow the detour route as…
Read MoreLiberal Democrats want more tax hikes on the rich in final crafting of state budget
From Harford Courant. As lawmakers scramble to finish a budget in the final full week of the legislative session, some liberal Democrats are concerned negotiators are not proposing enough tax hikes on the rich as they seek compromise with Gov. Ned Lamont. Negotiators have agreed on the outlines of a plan that rejects a 2…
Read MoreWeekend closure and detour of I-95 in Stamford begins May 31
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is reminding motorists that the first of two scheduled weekend closures and detours of I-95 in Stamford at Exit 9 is set to begin on Friday, May 31, 2019. The closures are necessary to facilitate the installation of two new bridge structures carrying Route 1 over I-95. Motorists are strongly…
Read MoreTrump tells Democrats to pass new NAFTA before infrastructure
From Bloomberg. President Donald Trump told Democratic congressional leaders on the eve of a White House meeting to discuss restoring the nation’s infrastructure that he first wanted them to pass his replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement. “Before we get to infrastructure, it is my strong view that Congress should first pass the…
Read MoreNew look at what tolls would mean for Connecticut drivers
Excerpt from CT Post. “Our plan, we think is the best value for Connecticut drivers,” Lemar said, detailing several months of negotiations with the state DOT, as well as federal highway authorities for months, with focus on strategic investments. “We feel pretty proud of the product that we have. If you are commuting every day…
Read MoreAnti-toll group delivers 100,000 petition signatures to Lamont
Excerpt from Yankee Institute article. Joseph Sculley, president of the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut, which represents the trucking industry, said his group also opposes tolls on Connecticut’s highways. “The current toll proposals will be a huge cost burden on small businesses in Connecticut,” Sculley said. “In a state that is struggling with small, medium…
Read MoreLamont: $213M project will ease Hartford highway backups
From Hartford Business Journal. Gov. Ned Lamont said work began this week on a $213 million state highway project aimed at easing congestion on an exit connecting Interstate 91 to the Charter Oak Bridge in Hartford. The state Department of Transportation earlier this week launched a “congestion-buster project” that will lead to the development of…
Read More