McGorty Registers Opposition to Reinstating Highway Tolls
Transportation issues have come to the forefront of the 2015 legislative session and the state’s lack of proper investment in the upkeep of roads and bridges has long been a concern of State Representative Ben McGorty (R-122), but that concern does not lead him to believe that the answer lies in reinstating tolls on Connecticut’s highways to obtain the funding needed to correct years of neglect.
“Legislative leaders and Governor Malloy are making it clear that putting tolls back on our highways could be a possibility,” said Rep. McGorty. “The governor has been talking about protecting transportation funding with a ‘lockbox.’ I appreciate his late conversion on this issue, but this is the same governor who joined with the majority in the legislature to raid that transportation funding from the last biennial budget for use in non-transportation spending projects.”
McGorty noted that Malloy and legislative Democrats swept $110 million out of the Special Transportation Fund in the 2013 biennial budget into the General Fund for other spending purposes, and that Republican efforts at proposing measures to preserve the integrity of the Special Transportation Fund were rebuffed by legislative Democrats. “Yesterday he wasn’t interested in saving transportation funding, but today he is a champion of it,” added McGorty. “That’s fine. But tolls won’t help us get there, and they remain too large a risk for public safety.”
A 1983 tractor trailer crash at a Stratford toll plaza that left seven motorists dead prompted the legislature to abolish highway tolls soon after. McGorty said the closing of the state’s toll plazas made Connecticut eligible for federal funds for surfacing, restoration and rehabilitation of the state’s highways. The state still receives approximately $500 million per year which would be in jeopardy should Connecticut reinstitute tolls.
“The list of my concerns about tolls is significant,” said McGorty. “Gridlock on Connecticut’s highways has become unbearable and toll plazas will create added congestion. The safety concerns that prompted their closing remain significant and the potential jeopardy to federal funding might negate any resources from the tolls. As if that’s not enough, the environmental concerns that arise from added congestion, and the fact that it unfairly financially discriminates against certain commuters just because of the particular roadway they need to drive on to get to work.”
A public hearing was held on February 25th on HB 6818, An Act Concerning the Establishment of Electronic Tolls at the State’s Borders by the legislature’s Transportation Committee. McGorty pledged to oppose any legislative efforts to implement tolls during this session of the legislature, which concludes in June.
McGorty is currently serving his first full term representing the 122nd District which includes Shelton, Stratford and Trumbull.