Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont wants to meet with legislative leaders soon to negotiate how to fund his $21 billion 10-year transportation infrastructure plan. There are now three competing proposals, with a fourth on the way.
The latest proposal is from House Democrats. Majority Leader Matt Ritter says his members won’t support bridge-only tolls on all vehicles, which was proposed by Lamont. He says that’s why they want a truck-only toll on 12 bridges instead of 14.
“Our argument is that they do 80% of the damages. And it’s probably worse on bridges because of the weight they bring over those bridges. For us that’s a rational argument for asking them to pay a fee versus passenger cars.”
Senate Republican Minority Leader Len Fasano isn’t buying it.
“This is the proverbial camel’s nose under a tent. That once these go up, and they are there, they’ll flick a switch on and say well now we are doing cars. That’s a very short leap.”
Meanwhile, Ritter says they need to agree on a funding plan in order to take advantage of low-cost federal infrastructure loans.
“The federal rate can move from us. Right now it’s at historic lows. And if you’ve seen the stock market and the way it’s rising, interest rates are actually rising on municipal bonds. So we are a little worried about that. So time is of the essence. We don’t want to rush it, but the longer we wait, the more likely that we lose that interest rate.”
Senate Republicans have proposed no tolls and no new taxes. Instead they suggest using money from the state’s rainy day fund to pay down pension obligations in order to free up money from the general fund to pay for infrastructure.
Fasano says every day they wait means further damage to the state’s infrastructure. At the same time, the solvency of the state’s Special Transportation Fund remains in question.
Governor Ned Lamont has invited all parties to meet with him soon to negotiate a compromise.
