Bond Commission approves toll study

From CT Post.

The State Bond Commission on Wednesday moved Connecticut a step closer to electronic tolls on state highways and four lane routes.

The commission authorized a $10 million study to look at tolling, per mile prices, which roads should be tolled and how much money could be made.

The state estimates tolling highways such as I-84, I-95, I-91, the Merritt Parkway and Rt. 8 could bring in as much as $1 billion a year.

“The undeniable truth is that our Special Transportation Fund needs a new, reliable revenue source,” said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who ordered the study.

“While Connecticut made important adjustments to the STF in recent years, those fixes only addressed our immediate, short-term concerns,” Malloy said.

“In order to ensure our bridges don’t collapse or close due to unsafe conditions, and to ensure that our highways remain open and operational, we need to explore additional revenue options,” Malloy said.

Republicans opposed the toll study, saying the move goes around the legislature, and tolls represent a new tax in an already overtaxed state.

A similar study was considered during the recently completed legislative session, and moved out of several committees, but was not put before the Senate or House for a vote.

“What we have heard from the people of Connecticut is that they don’t see a need to have a $10 million study,” said state Rep. Chris Davis, R-Ellington. who voted against the study.

“The state has spent millions of dollars on tolling already,” Davis said. “A transportation panel looked at tolling. If you wanted to do this, it could have been done over the last seven and a half years.”

See the full article from CT Post online.