Press Releases
03/06/2019
What They’re Saying: Business Leaders and Community Members Show Support for Modernizing Connecticut’s Transportation System
(HARTFORD, CT) – Business leaders, community members, transportation advocates, and other officials are testifying today at a public hearing of the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee in support of legislation Governor Ned Lamont introduced that will put Connecticut on a path toward achieving a modernized and efficient transportation system that reduces gridlock and attracts business growth. Here’s what they’re telling lawmakers:
Joe Giulietti, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation:
“Connecticut’s highways and bridges are aging, in need of repair, and congested. Current transportation revenues are insufficient to maintain the existing infrastructure or make the types of improvements needed to reduce congestion. Gasoline tax revenues have been flat for ten years and are expected to begin declining as cars become more efficient, and as the sales of electric vehicles increase. A new source of revenue is needed that supplements the revenue currently being allocated to the Special Transportation Fund. The fund needs to be sustainable and sufficient to improve the condition of Connecticut’s existing infrastructure and finance highway improvements that will reduce congestion.” READ MORE
David Lehman, Commissioner-designate of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development:
“The lack of investment in Connecticut’s infrastructure over the past several decades affects residents from every corner of the state. Be it the Gold Star Bridge in New London, the Mixmaster in Waterbury, the I-84 viaduct through Hartford, or targeted improvements to relieve congestion on I-95, these projects are among the highest transportation priorities for the Department of Transportation. The Governor’s Bill HB 7202 would allow for the construction and operation of tolls to raise revenue in order to help fund these projects and many more. These investments are crucial if Connecticut is going to be able to compete with other states for both businesses and residents.” READ MORE
Darrell Harvey, Co-CEO of The Ashforth Company:
“As a landlord of office properties, as an employer, and as a board member of the Business Council, I am very aware of why companies and their employees choose to come to Connecticut, and why they decide to stay or leave the state. I have been actively working with the Business Council on transportation issues for the last 40 years. While we have excellent human capital in the state it is increasingly difficult for employees to get to and from their jobs, whether commuting to or from New York City or within Connecticut.” READ MORE
Don Shubert, President of the Connecticut Construction Industries Association:
“In Connecticut, there are several mega-projects in the preliminary engineering process. Any one of those projects, by itself, could devour the state’s current transportation revenue streams. If one or two of those projects are funded by an electronic tolling system, more revenue resources would be available through the core programs and the state would be in a better position to meet its service, maintenance and expansion needs. Likewise, there are many other projects that CTDOT has not begun to address due to lack of funding sources. An electronic tolling system may be the ideal mechanism to fund one or more of those projects, which may not otherwise be delivered in the future.” READ MORE
James L. Fuda, Past President of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Connecticut:
“My firm has been providing engineering services in Connecticut for transportation projects since 1959. Forty percent of my staff have earned their engineering degrees from Connecticut colleges and have chosen to live and work in Connecticut. These highly skilled Connecticut taxpayers are key contributors to our state’s economy. Our business’s growth as well as the growth of Connecticut’s economy mutually depend on a predictable funding stream for transportation. The instability of current revenue sources going into the State Transportation Fund (STF) make it imperative that tolling be added to the mix now.” READ MORE
Nate Brown, Operating Engineers Local 478:
“House Bill 7202 could provide the state a long funding mechanism to rebuild Connecticut’s crumbling infrastructure, could help fix the current revenue shortfall problems and be a key factor in driving economic development in Connecticut when implemented properly.” READ MORE
Jim Cameron, Transportation advocate:
“If we are to rebuild our state’s economy we must first rebuild our roads. The gasoline tax is not enough, especially as it was lowered in 1997 by 14 cents a gallon in a politically popular by economically short-sighted move by the legislature.” READ MORE
Jason Wall, CEO of A-to-B, Inc.:
“The lack of a universal tolling program leaves the state’s taxpayers responsible for absorbing both the short and long-term costs of constant road repair, pollution, and falling real-estate prices entirely without contributions from the thousands of out-of-state commuters utilizing the same infrastructure daily.” READ MORE
Ted von Rosenvinge, American Council of Engineering Companies of Connecticut:
“Maintenance of our infrastructure has been delayed but given the safety concerns, we no longer have that luxury. Tolls are an effective source of revenue already used successfully and for many years by all of our neighboring states to invest in their transportation systems. This is also a key investment in our economy. It is time to start catching up. The truth is-we simply can’t wait any longer to address the infrastructure needs of the state.” READ MORE
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