Tolls have been conspicuous in the media lately, because of expectations surrounding the release of Governor Malloy’s long-term plan for Connecticut’s transportation infrastructure. The 30-year, $100 billion plan was released last week, and except for in fiscal years 2016 and 2017, it does not feature funding proposals for any of the projects it includes.
Tolls are among the funding mechanisms that have been discussed. In addition to the reasons most often given for opposing them, there are other factors, including elaborate federal restrictions and estimates of the revenues they could produce, that argue powerfully against tolls as a significant funding source.
Nevertheless, the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee is holding a public hearing this Wednesday, February 25, for one bill that proposes tolls. It focuses specifically on border tolls, which I believe would create a particularly inequitable situation for residents of Fairfield County and other regions on the state’s borders.
The bill on Wednesday’s public hearing agenda is HB 6818: An Act Concerning the Establishment of Electronic Tolls at the State’s Borders. To view the complete text of the bill, click here.
Your Opinion is Important: Here’s How to Convey It
This is the most important opportunity available to you this session to express your views not only on border tolls, but on any type of tolls, to the members of the Transportation Committee.
Testifying on the Bill
The Transportation Committee will hold the Wednesday, February 25 public hearing at 12:30 pm in Room 2E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
It can be difficult to attend a public hearing in the middle of the day. If you cannot attend, you can still make your voice heard effectively by submitting written testimony.
Submitting testimony in writing
Send your testimony by email to tratestimony@cga.ct.gov, and copy me at gail.lavielle@cga.ct.gov if you’d like. Be sure to include your name and address, and indicate the number of the bill you’re discussing (HB 6818 for the tolls bill – many bills on other subjects are also on the agenda) and whether you are supporting or opposing it, or just offering commentary.
Testifying in person at the hearing
You can sign up to testify any time between 8:00 am and 10:00 am on Wednesday in Room 2300 of the Legislative Office Building. Please bring 60 copies of your testimony with you; your written testimony will become part of the permanent legislative record. You’ll have three minutes to speak before the Committee, but if members ask you questions, you will have the time you need to respond.
For driving directions to the Legislative Office Building, click here.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to discuss tolls, transportation or any other issue. I am always happy to hear from you.