Truckers: Proposed highway tolls could be bypassed via side streets

Excerpt from Waterbury Rep-Am article. Joe Sculley, president of the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut, believes Lamont’s office has not fully accounted for toll-aversion in its revenue projections. He said that federal law requires the state to study potential toll diversion as part of the National Environmental Policy Act. Lamont’s office did not respond to…

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Excerpt from Waterbury Rep-Am article.

Joe Sculley, president of the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut, believes Lamont’s office has not fully accounted for toll-aversion in its revenue projections.

He said that federal law requires the state to study potential toll diversion as part of the National Environmental Policy Act.

Lamont’s office did not respond to questions about whether it had toll diversion estimates, nor would they say if those numbers were factored into revenue calculations.

Sculley said one of the most popular toll-dodging routes could be at the Charter Oak Bridge in East Hartford, where drivers can take Route 3 to Route 2 to I-84 eastbound, saving $12.80 to $19.20 in fees for the cost of an extra two minutes of driving.

“Some of these diversion options are a no-brainer,” Sculley said.

He pointed out that in Southbury, truck drivers could take Exit 14 of I-84 eastbound to Main Street, then cross the Housatonic River on River Street and re-enter the highway at the Exit 10 on-ramp from Route 34 in Newtown. This would avoid a toll of $6.40 to $9.60 on the Rochambeau Bridge.

See the complete article from the Waterbury Rep-Am online.

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