Bill Cummings
HARTFORD — Electronic tolls on Connecticut’s highways and four-lane state routes could bring in $1 billion a year to repair roads, bridges and ease congestion, a new study shows. The preliminary report released by the Connecticut Department of Transportation on Thursday includes significantly reduced fees for Connecticut drivers and predicts out-of-state trucks and cars would contribute 40 percent of the revenue.
"The report is designed to inform a dialogue among our elected leaders and the citizens of Connecticut about the potential for instituting tolls in the state," said DOT Commissioner James Redeker.
Republican opposition during the 2018 legislative session prevented the General Assembly’s Democratic majority from approving a bill to begin the process of installing tolls on state highways, which officials estimate would take at least several years to complete.
But the recent statewide election handed Democrats solid control of the House and Senate, and opened the door to tolls. During his campaign, Governor-elect Ned Lamont favored tolls on trucks.
"Governor-elect Lamont stands by his campaign promise not to toll personal vehicles, but to join our neighboring states in tolling heavy trucks given the significant damage they do to our roads and bridges,” said Lacey Rose, spokeswoman for Lamont. “This study confirms the Governor-elect's projection that tolling trucks would generate significant revenue that can be used to support Connecticut's transportation infrastructure."
Tolls everywhere
The $2 million preliminary study envisions 82 toll gantries — the overhead structures and cameras that read license plates as vehicles pass underneath — on all 13 of the state’s interstate highways and four-lane roads, including Rt 8, Rt. 9 and the Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways.
The study advances a larger $10 million toll study approved by the State Bond Commission during the waning months of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration.
The preliminary study sets toll rates for state residents as low as 3.5 cents per mile during off-peak hours if the driver has a Connecticut E-Z Pass. The average trip made by a Connecticut driver on limited access highways is 12 miles, DOT said.
With the discounts, a 12-mile toll trip would be 42 cents off-peak and 53 cents during peak hours, DOT noted. "If the state were to raise the equivalent amount of revenue from the gas tax, it would require an increase of 67 cents in addition t the current 25 cent [per gallon] gas tax, or a total of 92 cents on every gallon of gas," DOT said.
James Cameron, founder of the Commuter Action Group and a Hearst Connecticut Media columnist, said the study is "excellent news" and shows that tolls could provide the money needed to rebuild roads and bridges.
"Nobody wants to pay more for something they now get for free but we all know the condition of the roads and need for repairs," Cameron said. "Time of day pricing will reduce congestion and toll-paying motorists will see a benefit with faster trip times, and time is money."
Cameron added the transportation “lock box” recently approved by voters will preserve the toll money for fixing roads and bridges and prevent diversions to other uses.
"The lock box passed by a huge margin," Cameron said. "The anti-toll candidates who said tolls are a tax were refuted and rejected at the polls."
Several Republican leaders who have said tolls are an unneeded tax on an already overtaxed state did not return calls seeking comment on the new study.
Work needed
The report points out that 14 states between Maine and Florida already have tolls and provided charts that show E-ZPass rates for state residents would be the fourth lowest in that corridor.
The proceeds could be used to reduce congestion on I-95 in the Bridgeport to Greenwich corridor, along I-84 in Danbury and allow for extensive work in Hartford and Waterbury, the study said.
Redeker said the state has few other options to raise the large amount of money needed to improve the state’s congested and crumbling highway system.
"Current revenues are insufficient to maintain our roads and bridges or to remove traffic bottlenecks and reduce congestion and [the study] recommended tolls as one way of generating new revenue," Redeker said.
In a report on state finances issued to Governor-elect Lamont on Thursday, the state’s budget office also pointed out that tolls are a viable way to raise needed transportation money.
“The state could also consider implementing tolls in some form,” said Ben Barnes, Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management.
“There is considerable lead time required to design and install tolling systems, so obtaining legislative approval soon will enable the state to begin to expand its infrastructure investments over the coming five years,” Barnes advised Lamont in a letter.
Cherry Street Lofts residents set for Bridgeport move in
Though it took years to come together, Bridgeport’s Cherry Street Lofts are leased up and preparing for new residents.
Following a bustling leasing period, developers from New York-based Corvus Capital Management announced Thursday that residents of the West End’s newest apartment complex are expected to move into their units by Nov. 25. The apartments hit the market roughly two months ago with over 140 units and most have been rented out.
“We should’ve built 300 units,” said Gary Flocco, head of Corvus Capital. “When we did market studies it said that we would lease about 18 units a month, so my partner and I said, ‘Let’s say that we are going to do 12 a month.’ On some days we’ve done 12 in one day.”
Though advertising for the apartments was scarce, the New York developer said they received more than 2,700 inquiries, though less than a quarter met the income-based requirements. While some units were leased at market rate, 80 percent, or 126 units, were set aside for tenants making no more than 60 percent of the area median income, which sits around $90,000.
Among the affordable apartment units, 19 were reserved for tenants with disabilities. While two of those units have tenants, developers said they are working with Access Independence Inc. to lease the remaining 17 apartments.
The development has been in the works since 2013, during the administration of former Mayor Bill Finch. Corvus Capital set out to transform the block of blighted factory buildings along Interstate 95 into apartments, retail space and a new charter school.Construction of the new Great Oaks Charter school is ongoing as Corvus Capital plans to complete that part of the project by July. Developers broke ground on the 70,000-square-foot building over the summer.
There is also second wave of apartments slated to be built in coming years.“We’re just doing some exploratory work right now, which we’ve been doing for the last couple of months,” Flocco said, adding that he and his team are looking to begin construction of another 150 units by spring.
Barring any setbacks, developers are hopeful that they can get the second round of apartments ready toward the end of 2020.
By that time, a number of other residential projects throughout the city will have added to Bridgeport’s rental inventory.
“There’s a lot of interest from developers looking at downtown” said Tom Gill, director of economic development. “It’s a great trend as far as with a lot of young people moving in.” CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
WATERBURY – The Exit 31 ramp on Route 8 southbound will close for three nights starting Sunday.
The ramp, which leads to Interstate 84 eastbound, is part of the Mixmaster. It needs to close to facilitate work associated with the $153 million rehabilitation of the system of ramps and bridges that comprise the junction of Route 8 and I-84.
It will close each night at 7 p.m. until 5 the next morning. Motorists will be directed to use detours.
Drivers will continue onto Route 8 southbound and take Exit 30 (Washington Avenue). At the end of the off-ramp, take a left onto Washington Avenue, then a left onto Riverside Street and then a right onto Bank Street. Follow signs to I-84 from Bank Street to the on-ramp of I-84 eastbound.
The work was originally scheduled to begin tonight, but was postponed due to inclement weather.
The ramp, which leads to Interstate 84 eastbound, is part of the Mixmaster. It needs to close to facilitate work associated with the $153 million rehabilitation of the system of ramps and bridges that comprise the junction of Route 8 and I-84.
It will close each night at 7 p.m. until 5 the next morning. Motorists will be directed to use detours.
Drivers will continue onto Route 8 southbound and take Exit 30 (Washington Avenue). At the end of the off-ramp, take a left onto Washington Avenue, then a left onto Riverside Street and then a right onto Bank Street. Follow signs to I-84 from Bank Street to the on-ramp of I-84 eastbound.
The work was originally scheduled to begin tonight, but was postponed due to inclement weather.