Lawmakers, Residents Want to Pump the Brakes on Tolls

HARTFORD – House and Senate Republican ranking members of the Transportation Committee, State Rep. Laura Devlin and Senator Henri Martin, were invited to Derby on Wednesday night by their colleagues to present a transportation funding plan that doesn’t rely on tolls or tax increases.

Rep. Devlin and Martin explained that the Republican Prioritize Progress Plan works within current state resources and will provide $65 billion for transportation infrastructure projects over the next 30 years.

In addition, the lawmakers added that the plan operates within Connecticut’s new bond cap, borrowing no more than allowed under the cap. Last year, the bipartisan budget lawmakers placed a cap on state bonding.

To view the full plan visit – www.cthousegop.com/prioritize

The majority of residents in attendance expressed their opposition to tolls. Click here for a full live stream of the event from the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Area lawmakers that were in attendance included State Representatives Themis Klarides, Jason Perillo, Nicole Klarides-Ditra, Charles Ferraro, and State Senator George Logan.

“I want to thank the residents who attended the toll forum last night to ask questions and to express their concerns about tolls,” said Rep. Klarides-Ditria. “We have an alternative to fixing our bridges, highways, roads and rail that doesn’t require tolls. Instead of tolls, it’s time to prioritize how our state spends money on transportation projects.”