Lamont: Tolling all vehicles best for long term

HARTFORD — The day after he presented two different tolling plans to the General Assembly, Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday made it clear he favors tolling all vehicles, not just trucks.

“I think it’s the best longterm solution,” Lamont said at a press conference on a balcony at the Office of Policy and Management. The balcony overlooks the Interstate 84 viaduct in Hartford — a 2-mile stretch of highway that is deteriorating and carrying three times as many vehicles daily as it should be, state officials said.

On Wednesday, in his first budget address to the General Assembly, Lamont mapped out a plan that would include 53 gantries and would limit the tolling to Interstates 84, 91, 95 and Route 15.

The plan is a reduction of gantries by 35 percent — from 82 — that was released in a 2018 study the state Department of Transportation. This new report said the reduction in gantries won’t result in a significant revenue drop, since the roads are so heavily traveled.

The report further proposes charging a reduced rate of at least 30 percent to Connecticut E-ZPass holders.

Toll operations would start in fiscal year 2023 with full implementation by 2025.

According to the governor’s office, “When fully implemented, this new plan will generate an estimated $800 million annually.”

But in his budget,

Lamont also outlined a second option — a trucksonly toll plan that would raise about $200 million. It was the plan he favored during his successful gubernatorial campaign.

Asked whether he misled voters during the campaign when he said he supported truck-only tolls, Lamont said “we inherited a mess.”

Lamont’s budget closes a two-year $3.5 billion budget deficit.

“Just borrowing our way through this is what got us here,” he said Thursday. “That’s not an option to upgrade our transportation system.”

Lamont said his team would take a look at whether to proceed with a $10 million study on tolls that was approved last year by the Bond Commission after being proposed by then-Gov. Dan P. Malloy.

Lamont was critical of the $10 million toll study on the campaign trail.

A spokeswoman for Lamont said the money has been authorized, but has not been allocated. Maribel La Luz, Lamont’s communications director, said the study is a “federal requirement if the state of CT moves ahead with tolling in any capacity.”

Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, not only found fault with Lamont changing his stance on tolls but also his overall budget plan for transportation.

“I’m disappointed to hear Gov. Lamont repeatedly say one thing but do another,” Fasano said.

He said Lamont’s budget shortchanges transportation and will “force the state to put needed repairs on hold until tolls are up and running. If the governor really thinks transportation is an immediate priority his budget directly conflicts with his goal.”

Lamont was joined at Thursday’s press conference by Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti and Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw.

Giulietti said the I-84 viaduct near the OPM office was built in the 1960s and is already past its 50year lifespan. He said it was designed to carry 55,000 vehicles a day. It now carries 175,000.

Transportation officials have estimated the cost of replacing just that one stretch of highway to be between $2 and $5.3 billion.

Because the tolling plan, whichever form it takes, won’t be in place for at least another four years, the state’s Special Transportation Fund is not sustainable, according to McCaw.

“We will have an operating deficit,” without additional funding, McCaw said. And Lamont quickly chimed in that he doesn’t think a solution is to increase the gas tax, with more fuel efficient and electric cars on the roads these days.

“I’m trying to help build a transportation system for the next 20 years,” Lamont said. “I’m tired of constantly borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.”

Lamont said he wasn’t looking to jam the toll all vehicles plan down the throats of legislators.

He repeated while he thinks its the best idea he’s open to discussing all options with the legislature about tolling.

Jessica Hill / Associated Press Hilary Gunn, of Greenwich, protests the idea of tolls on Conn. roads outside the state Capitol on Wednesday.

Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media Patrick Sasser, of Stamford, and protestors from the group No Tolls CT, hold signs outside the Capitol in Hartford on Wednesday.