Connecticut tolls clear first legislative vote of session

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut lawmakers voted Wednesday to advance legislation that could lead to electronic tolls on some highways, but it remained unclear whether 2019 is the year tolling legislation will finally pass the General Assembly.

During a closely watched vote, Republican and some Democratic members of the Transportation Committee voiced varied concerns about the three tolling bills up for vote and how their constituents would be impacted. Each bill cleared along party lines, 2313, with Democrats in support and Republicans in opposition.

“At the end of the day, we’re talking about some of these people’s bottom line,” said Rep. Travis Simms, D-Norwalk, who voted in favor of the legislation Wednesday, but reserved the right to vote no later in the session.

Each bill awaits further action in either the House of Representatives or Senate. But lawmakers said they expect various parts of each bill, which would toll both cars and trucks on Interstates 95, 91, 84 and sections of Route 15 possibly as soon as 2023, will be crafted into one cohesive proposal. Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont’s tolling proposal was among the bills that cleared the committee.

“At the end of the day, it’s about narrowing to come up with the best plan possible, if one exists, to move forward,” said Sen. Carlo Leone, D-Stamford, the committee’s co-chairman.

Opponents vowed to step up the political pressure on lawmakers in hopes of derailing tolls yet again. Patrick Sasser, founder of the grassroots organization Say No to CT Tolls, said the focus will now be on legislators in districts where they “barely have made it” in the last election.

“We’re going to start hammering on the areas where the working class, where this really affects them. This is going to be our next movement after today’s vote,” said Sasser, whose group has collected more than 86,000 petitions opposing tolls. He said his group plans to hold protests, knock on doors and educate people about the legislation. He said many taxpayers don’t realize the extent of the proposals, which involve dozens of tolling gantries.