The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Lamont unveils toll plan
Includes income tax cut, plan to widen I-95, toll credit
HARTFORD — Gov. Ned Lamont Wednesday unveiled a tolling plan that reduces the state income tax for the middle class and provides a toll credit for low-income taxpayers.
As his political crusade to bring tolls to Connecticut enters a key second phase, Lamont outlined specific projects to reduce congestion on Interstate 95 in Fairfield County that could be accomplished using toll revenues. He told top lawmakers the state needs $2 billion a year to keep its roads, bridges and rails in a state of good repair. If the state does not make those investments, in 10 years it could face slashed federal grants for transportation.
Lamont released the plan after holding his first major meeting with legislative leaders since the end of the 2019 legislative session
“We’re going to raise a significant amount of money through tolling just for transportation,” said Lamont. “I understand the middle class is getting squeezed in this state and tolling in many ways is going to be costly . ... We can make this affordable, we can make this do-able and get this going.”
Lamont’s new pitch did not bring compromise between Democrats and Republicans. Top Republicans leaders remain firmly opposed to tolls, they reiterated Wednesday.
“No we don’t support tolls, period,” said Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven. “We were in that room because they didn’t have the votes. ... He needs our help to get tolls over the finish line.”
But it is unclear whether the new proposal is enough to win enough support from Democrats, who hold a majority in both legislative chambers. House and Senate Democratic leaders did not comment after the meeting.
Democratic Sen. Martin M. Looney said he liked the
idea of income-tax reduction and a toll credit so low-income families feel less of a financial burden from tolls. But he said it was premature to say if any toll plan would pass his caucus with enough votes to overcome Republican opposition.
Lamont continues to believe a special session will be held to pass legislation on tolls, he said Wednesday. He said he would have Democratic votes on board after this meeting.
Lamont made his new pitch to Democrat and Republican legislative leaders in a closed door meeting at the Capitol Wednesday afternoon. Reporters were not allowed in the meeting, but Lamont officials shared the presentation given by Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Lamont’s Chief of Staff Ryan Drajewicz, Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw and Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti with the media.
If tolls are implemented, Lamont proposed dropping the income tax rate on an individual’s first $10,000 and joint filers’ first $20,000 of income from 3 to 2 percent. That change would give individuals making between $25,000 and $101,500 a savings of $90 and joint filers savings of $180.
The loss of revenue for the state would be $100 million per year. Lamont has said tolls will bring in $700 million per year.
House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, and Fasano said this concept was not discussed in the meeting, although it was contained in a document given to reporters. They were not aware of a specific proposal to adjust the income tax.
Lamont’s presentation said he would also give a 20-percent toll credit to people who make up to $32,000 a year. He would lower bus fares from $1.75 to $1.00 and give 30-percent discounts to in-state residents and 20-percent discounts to frequent commuters.
With an influx of money from tolls, the state could afford to widen parts of I-95 west of New Haven to reduce traffic. Lamont’s presentation highlighted improvement projects on I-95 in Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, Norwalk, Bridgeport and Milford, including adding an additional northbound lane on six miles of interstate between exits 19 and 28.
A previous plan to widen I-95 was more extensive and deemed unfeasible because of concerns over the effect on private property, the new plan says.
The state is not currently meeting federal standards in bridge and highway conditions, risking millions in federal funding, the presentation states. To bring these assets to good condition, the state needs $1.5 billion a year to invest in highways and bridges. For rail, transportation officials want $550 million a year.
Lamont argued that the state’s congested roads are hindering the economy and residents’ quality of life. Seven of the worst truck freight bottlenecks in the nation are in New Haven, Stamford, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Hartford and Waterbury. Lawmakers will continue to negotiate until they reach a deal that lawmakers will approve. Lamont or legislative leaders can then call the General Assembly back into a special session for a vote.
Lamont has made investment in transportation infrastructure the top priority of his first year in office. But in six months, the General Assembly was unable to draft toll legislation that would win enough votes to pass before it adjourned on June 5.
Some political observers question whether it will be harder to whip votes for tolls in the summer, when the state budget and other legislation — that could be used to flip a nay to a yea — have already passed.
Many Democrats in border towns and urban areas have concerns — mainly about the cost of tolls for their constituents.
Lamont has showed some willingness to compromise, but tolls — which he maintains will bring in more than $700 million per year, 40 percent of which will come from out-of-state drivers — must be part of the equation, he believes.
His last plan included a maximum of 50 electronic toll gantries on interstates 95, 91, 84 and the Merritt Parkway.
A dozen protestors held signs and chanted “no tolls” as Lamont and lawmakers walked into their meeting.
Peter Dickinson, of Manchester, and Mark Anderson, of Granby, were among them. It was Dickinson’s first political protest. Anderson attended 10 notolls rallies since February, he said.
“I don’t want another tax to pay,” said Dickinson, a retired postal worker.
Neil Tolhurst, a longtime member of his New Hartford Democratic Town Committee, said he opposed tolls because of the overhead costs and bureaucracy needed to collect them.
“Tolls are the most inefficient taxing system that exists,” he said.