Forum on state highway tolls set

MILFORD — As tough as it is to discuss bringing back highway tolls when so many are struggling financially, it’s a subject that needs to be addressed, and it will be on Saturday morning at an informational forum to be held at City Hall, said state Rep. Kim Rose, D-Milford.

The forum, to be attended by several area Democratic legislators will address current legislation that calls for a study of tolls and what impact that may have on residents and commuters in Connecticut.

The dialogue will be open and those slated to attend include: state Reps. Rose; Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven; Philip Young, DStratford and Joe Gresko, D-Stratford.

Rose said there is a lot of “incorrect information” circulating on social media about tolls.

“I have always tried to educate my constituents and be honest as to why we are where we are, what the facts are and why we have to make the hard decisions,” Rose said. “I heard from one constituent who said her commute from Milford to Stamford will cost her $400 a month. I’m not sure where those figures came from.”

Rose said legislators were told by Department of Transportation officials that a commuter with an EZ Pass may expect to pay $1.73 traveling from Milford to the New York border. The number and locations of the overhead tolls will be determined later following a finite study, Rose said.

The forum will help constituents make “informed decisions,” about tolls, Rose said.

The forum will take place at 10 a.m. at Milford City Hall, 110 River St.

“The thought of tolls is a huge issue among voters in CT. It brings back the memories of that horrific crash in Stratford. It brings about anger that we will be facing another cost and expense,” Rose wrote in an email response. “Anytime we are faced with an increase in cost it’s concerning.”

Rose said many people are living on a strict budget and adding cost to the commute and daily lives will in many cases mean cutting costs somewhere else.

But she said there needs to be a way to fund the State Transportation Fund. Rose said some have suggested bonding, but that’s like, “kicking the can down the road. Our grandchildren will be straddled with the bill much like we are now trying to fund the unfunded pensions.” Bonding also means Connecticut residents will foot the whole bill, Rose said.

“Although a difficult conversation, it is one that we need to have,” Rose wrote in the email.

Rose said she’s heard Connecticut is one of the costliest states for road repair.

Rose said this year’s proposal regarding tolls is to allow the Department of Transportation to do a study, the first phase of which is an environmental study required by the federal government. The turnaround time is 18 to 24 months, she said, noting the DOT will come back with a concrete proposal, and legislators will go through it, “with a fine-tooth comb.”

After that, it will go to state residents in the form of public hearings.

“There are really so many unknowns right now,” Rose said. She said federal law will not allow border tolls.

Rose said there is no question that somehow the transportation fund has to be funded to keep it sustainable.

“We cannot continue to let our roads to fall in disrepair. We need to enhance our bus and rail service and infrastructure so that commuters can get to work via a clean, affordable and reliable system,” Rose wrote in her email. “And we can no longer allow out-of-state vehicles to use our roadways without sharing in the cost of repairs.”

Bob Luckey Jr. / Hearst Connecticut Media Participants take part in a protest against any tolls, a new gas tax and a tire tax earlier this year. The demonstration was held in front of the Stamford Goverment Center. Roughly 75 people attended the protest that was accompanied by a caravan of...