Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up to the suspension in fares on state buses apparently resulting in a rise in ridership. We say “apparently” because Connecticut

Department of Transportation officials are not yet certain the spike isn’t merely the result of spring’s arrival, or a reaction to high gas prices. That may not seem unexpected, but more riders can only have benefits. Giving a break to traditional riders could mean they are getting out to shop more, and getting new people on buses contributes to goals of reduced traffic and emissions. For anyone who has never taken buses, it’s a good time to start. The fares are on pause through June 30.

Thumbs up to state lawmakers approving a plan to electrify thousands of vehicles over the next decade. Not only will the state conversion

of its fleet of cars, trucks and buses have an immediate impact, it will surely inspire other drivers to consider making the transition. The bill expands the state’s electric vehicle rebate program, making it available to businesses and municipalities. It also offers vouchers and grants to helps businesses buy electric trucks and school districts invest in carbon-free buses.

Thumbs down to a continued rise in the rate of COVID-19 in Connecticut. The state’s seven-day positivity rate surpassed 9 percent Friday,

which represents 5,700 new cases among 60,527 tests. While state officials remain committed to not reviving the likes of mask mandates, it’s a reminder to everyone to show caution. The omicron subvariant BA.2 is seen as highly transmissible, and it’s always wise to avoid getting sick, or infecting others.

Thumbs up to nearly a billion dollars of unexpected tax revenue flowing into state coffers. State officials found Monday that an extra $856

million in tax receipts is coming in this fiscal year, which comes on top of $1.2 billion that Gov. Ned Lamont’s budget office reported two weeks ago. That puts the state budget some $4.8 billion in the black, a number that is shocking on its own but should be surprising to anyone who has seen years of state budgets that looked destined for deficits as far as the eye could see. There are already tax cuts planned, and much of the surplus will go toward next year’s budget, but more will go toward paying down long-term debt.

Thumbs up to the push to preserve Plum Island. The longtime site of the federal government’s Animal Disease Center in the middle of Long

Island Sound, Plum Island has been called an “ecological gem,” and senators from Connecticut and New York are urging it be included in federal preservation efforts. With the research center soon the be decommissioned and a proposed sale of the property put off over local objections, its future is uncertain. Preservation would allow future generations to enjoy a one-of-a-kind location.