Senator Kissel urges Gov. Malloy to Fight Against Border Tolls [Associated Press]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First Posted: August 19, 2011 – 3:32 pm

HARTFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut state senator is asking the governor to fight a proposal by Rhode Island officials to charge tolls on Interstate 95 on their side of the state line.

Republican Sen. John Kissel said in a letter Friday to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy that tolls near the state line would impede commerce, hurt Connecticut tourism and possibly set off a toll war in New England.

Rhode Island’s Department of Transportation filed an application in June asking the federal government for permission to open tollbooths on both sides of the highway in Hopkinton. No tolls are proposed at the Massachusetts border.

Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee (CHAY’-fee) supports adding tolls to help pay for transportation infrastructure.