Statement from Senator John A. Kissel following the Transportation Committee March 6th Public Hearing on Tolls

March 7, 2019
Transportation 2019-03-06 Tolling Legislation Public Hearing (9 of 13)

State Senator John A. Kissel listens to leaders of DOT, OPM & DECD, constituents, and legislators during the March 6th Public Hearing on tolls before the Transportation Committee

“After yesterday’s hearing, I remain strongly opposed to re-instituting tolls on Connecticut highways. It was really amazing to see all the support from our constituents who oppose tolls and to receive so many pieces of written and in person testimony,” said Senator Kissel (R-07). “What some people like to call ‘tolls’ are a mileage tax, plain and simple. These toll gantries would not charge for specific projects like a bridge or tunnel, but would blanket the entire length of the most used roadways in the state. The federal government has even described these proposals as ‘new territory’ and unlike any other state’s approach to tolling.”

 

“Leaders of DOT, OPM & DECD indicated a revenue target of $480 Million in mileage taxes from Connecticut taxpayers alone, but what happens if that target isn’t met? The cost per mile goes up. The tolling proposals we heard yesterday are not full plans, and it remains unclear just how much they could pull from the wallets of taxpayers who already must cope with overly-burdensome taxes. We have a fully-fledged plan that would inject
unprecedented amounts into the special transportation fund, while also
eliminating excessive bonding for political handouts. Prioritize Progress has
yet to be given a fair shake, and now that we have seen the tolling proposals,
it’s only fair we examine other plans that do not rely on more and higher taxes.”