New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Tolls call for political courage
There is only one fiscally responsible solution to our transportation crisis, only one way to raise the money needed to make our roads and rails fast, safe and efficient so new businesses and residents move to Connecticut and save our economy. The only three options for raising revenue are — taxes, debt or tolls. I choose tolls. I was the first legislator to submit a bill on tolls.
And despite vigorous and vocal opposition from the Republican party, I remain staunchly supportive. Why? Because I believe we were elected to lead, not follow — to gather the facts, weigh the pros and cons on every issue and make responsible decisions that help Connecticut grow and prosper. I expect elected leaders to lead. Not to shy away from difficult but necessary decisions.
Unfortunately, this appears to be a minority view. Though Democrats in the House and Senate agreed privately that tolls are a responsible and necessary response to our infrastructure crisis, few took a strong position publicly. The governor fought valiantly for the cause, but has now made so many concessions that the plan is watered down to nearly nothing. Recent reports say Gov. Ned Lamont and Senate President Martin Looney agreed to toll just a few defective bridges. As columnist Dan Haar opined, this idea is neither fair nor efficient.
We have a fullblown crisis on hand and this new plan is a mere BandAid. When people complain about the economy in Connecticut — high taxes, slow growth and outmigration — they should realize that all these problems will only grow worse if we continue to avoid critical investments that transform our roads and rails. Transportation infrastructure is the backbone of any economy and ours will regress if we do nothing. Or if we allow elected leaders to avoid the difficult policies needed to transform our state.
Connecticut needs $4 billion to replace four failing bridges along the rail line between New Haven and New York. Trains must slow down when crossing these bridges because they are so fragile. Just imagine one of these bridges collapsing with a train on it. Do people have to die in Connecticut before we find the courage and funding to fix our bridges?
The newly watereddown tolling plan would raise approximately $100 millionto$250 million a year, which might pay for onequarter of one bridge. Not even a drop in the bucket of what is truly needed. Without billions in new revenue, and a smarter system of prioritizing and financing projects (like my Infrastructure Bank bill SB70), we can expect collapsing bridges and dead people in Connecticut. This is why I can’t sleep or stay silent until we address the issue head on.
Nor can I accept a weak compromise and call it a solution. That may be how politicians think. But it’s not how problemsolvers think.
Connecticut should have one of the strongest economies in the country, given its proximity to New York, gorgeous coastline, charming towns and excellent schools. We should be a state where businesses and communities flourish. We are poised for that to happen. I’m excited by the transformation of Bridgeport Harbor with new residential development that will be especially attractive to those paying high New York City rents, if we can also offer them fast train service to the city. When that happens, we are guaranteed an influx of new businesses and highincome residents. Even if you live in Farmington and never take Metro North, this benefits you because new businesses and residents bring more revenue into our state, which means your taxes can go down not up. No tolls = higher taxes, more traffic, less funding for schools and services and no prospect of positive growth.
If we boil this issue down to one image — it’s root canal. Does anyone want root canal? Absolutely not. But if you need it, you do it. Connecticut needs root canal. It needed it 20 years ago. The symptoms are everywhere — highway traffic that only grows worse, trains that only get slower and bridges that become more dangerous as time passes. We can fix this crisis.
We must. And set Connecticut on a course of sustainable economic growth. During this past session, many of us in the Senate supported tolls and wanted to vote on it. Everyone agreed it was the right answer though some worried how it would impact their next election. Tolls are like root canal — not fun but still the responsible and necessary choice. As citizens of Connecticut, we should not accept BandAid compromises when we need bold solutions. Crisis requires courage.
Though Democrats in the House and Senate agreed privately that tolls are a responsible and necessary response to our infrastructure crisis, few took a strong position publicly.