Citing Sen. Duff’s Comments, Republican Leaders Call for Action to Prevent Fare Hikes

September 12, 2016

Noting recent public comments made by Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) opposing rail fare hikes, Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) and Sen. Toni Boucher (R-Wilton) today called upon Sen. Duff and the Democratic-controlled legislature to take action to prevent the hikes from taking place.

In a weekend Connecticut Post article (http://m.ctpost.com/local/article/Battle-shaping-up-over-Metro-North-fare-hikes-9213651.php), Sen. Duff stated his opposition to the fare increase and stressed how state transportation officials could have reduced other areas within its budget and avoided the hike. “There was no (fare) increase tucked away in the (State of Connecticut) budget,” Sen. Duff said in the Sep. 10 article. “There was nothing in the budget that called for a rail increase. That was up to DOT. The funding could have come from different sources. No one supports the increase.”

“Republicans oppose the fare hikes that are wrong for Connecticut commuters,” Sen. Boucher, the Ranking Member of the legislature’s Transportation Committee said. “If the Democrats agree with the Republicans that these rate hikes shouldn’t happen, then why aren’t we joining together for a Special Session at the State Capitol to do something about it? Sen. Duff is the Majority Leader and therefore he has the power to call that Special Session. Sen. Duff and majority Democrats have the power to protect commuters and taxpayers. What’s holding them back?”

“So let me get this straight,” Sen. Fasano said. “Sen. Duff says he opposes rail fare hikes. He says ‘no one’ supports the hikes. So, why doesn’t Sen. Duff back up the talk with action? What is Sen. Duff going to do about the issue other than pay it lip service? And by the way, this is the same thing Sen. Duff said about the mileage tax study. He’s against it, yet Sen. Duff has done nothing to prevent $300,000 in state taxpayer dollars from being spent to fund the mileage tax study.”

The next public hearing on proposed fare increases will take place Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM & 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the University of Connecticut Stamford Campus Auditorium.

Another public hearing will take place on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM & 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the New Haven Hall of Records Room G-2, 200 Orange Street, New Haven.

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