McGorty, Hoydick & Kelly Offer Long-Term Statewide Transportation Plan
Representatives Laura Hoydick (R-120), Ben McGorty (R-122) and Sen. Kevin Kelly (R-21) joined Senate and House Republican caucuses this week as they released a plan to prioritize transportation across the state of Connecticut. By securing a predictable and sustainable funding source and empowering transportation experts to plan for the future, “Prioritize Progress” aims to create a safe, reliable and multi-model transportation network including roads, bridges, rail, bus, and port improvements.
“This is a creative, provocative and bold plan to create a sustainable funding source for our roads, bridges, ports and public transit,” said Sen. Kelly. “Connecticut has spent over 120 years chasing revenue streams to fund transportation projects. The plan we have outlined is a better way to do what our state needs to do. It’s a win-win for taxpayers and commuters that will allow us to direct more funding to transportation while simultaneously reducing state borrowing.”
“While the state’s transportation infrastructure is an essential element to a successful economic strategy, funding to support it has routinely been siphoned off in our state budgets to fund other legislative by the majority,” said Rep. Hoydick. “The plan we are putting forward will establish more stable funding for these needs without increasing taxes or adding to the economic burden state residents already live under.”
“The plan we are advancing is forward-looking and comprehensive,” said Rep. McGorty. “The rebuilding of our state’s transportation infrastructure will be a tremendous undertaking, and we are providing a blueprint on how to get there by both lowering debt service and not increasing taxes. We need to stop the legislature’s habit of raiding transportation funds and commit to investing in this essential machinery of our economy.”
“This is a creative, provocative and bold plan to create a sustainable funding source for our roads, bridges, ports and public transit,” said Sen. Kelly. “Connecticut has spent over 120 years chasing revenue streams to fund transportation projects. The plan we have outlined is a better way to do what our state needs to do. It’s a win-win for taxpayers and commuters that will allow us to direct more funding to transportation while simultaneously reducing state borrowing.”
The “Prioritize Progress” plan involves (1) establishing a predictable and sustainable funding stream for transportation totaling at least $1 billion every year for the next 30 years, and (2) reinstituting the Transportation Strategy Board to aid the Connecticut Department of Transportation in identifying community needs and prioritizing safety improvements.
Benefits of the plan include:
- An annual transportation funding mechanism guaranteeing at least $1 billion annually over the next 30 years
- No tax increases
- No tolls
- A reduction in the current level of state bonding
- Flexibility in setting transportation priorities
- A sustainable and predictable funding plan to support future generations
Key components of the plan would require the state to:
- Reserve a set amount of General Obligation Bonds to be used solely for transportation priorities.
- Preserve current Special Tax Obligation bonds dedicated to transportation.
- Fill all vacant positions at the Department of Transportation to ensure that the agency can efficiently carry out the state’s needed transportation projects. As of January 1, the DOT is 114 positions below where they were 6 months previously.
- Re-establish the Transportation Strategy Board (TSB) to work alongside CTDOT to assess proposed projects, identify community needs.