Lamont: No tolls for I84 at DanburyN.Y. border
DANBURY — Any proposal to put tolls at Danbury’s border with New York on Interstate 84 is dead.
“When the day comes, there will not be a border toll in Danbury, period,” said Max Reiss, communications director for Gov. Ned Lamont.
Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi welcomed the news.
“This means there will be no border tolls — or tolls of any type — in the Danbury area and no possible diversion of traffic into Ridgefield due to tolls,” Marconi said in a prepared statement.
Marconi said he received Gov. Ned Lamont’s assurance twice this month that general tolling on the Merritt Parkway, Interstate 95, Interstate 91 and Interstate 84 “will not be implemented as was originally planned.”
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said until the governor proposes his transportation plan and it is approved by the state legislature, Boughton plans to keep his guard up.
It’s common to see evening rushhour traffic backed up for miles at the exit for Danbury off Interstate 684 on the New York side of the border, already making the commute a nighmare for many Danbury and Ridgefield commuters on their way home from New York City or Westchester.
That traffic has only increased as the overall economy has improved and Danbury — the fastest growing city in the state — finds its population zooming.
Boughton, a Republican, said he has been reassured by Lamont the I84 widening project in Danbury will be part of the Democratic governor’s plan.
“I do applaud the governor for that,” Boughton said.
Reiss said the governor has “never proposed a plan for border tolls.”
Marconi, a Democrat, said he was first informed by Lamont that there would be no border tolls on Oct. 19.
“This was confirmed again during a call with the governor’s office on Oct. 29,” Marconi said in a prepared statement.
Lamont’s assurance to Marconi that tolls are being considered only for “superstructures like a new bridge or other similar features that require largescale construction” appears to be good news for Danbury.
Danbury’s City Council passed a resolution on Oct. 4 against implementing tolls.
“Hopefully we can send a clear message to Hartford here tonight that Danbury and people in Danbury do not want tolls,” Councilman John Esposito III said.