More talk of tolls down the road for state legislature

Hartford - The idea of reintroducing tolls to some Connecticut highways could be back up for consideration during this year's legislative session.

The chairmen of the General Assembly's Transportation Committee - Sen. Andrew Maynard, D-Stonington, and Rep. Antonio Guerrera, D-Rocky Hill - both spoke enthusiastically last week about charging out-of-state motorists when they enter Connecticut.

The revenue from such tolls could finance needed repairs and upgrades to the state's roads, bridges and railways. There could even be enough money left over to decrease the state's gasoline taxes, which currently add more than 50 cents to the cost of a gallon of unleaded fuel.

The chairmen discussed tolls together after listening to a presentation at the Capitol Friday by state Transportation Commissioner James Redeker that described how there is $15 billion to $20 billion of worthy projects currently unfunded in the department's five-year plan.

"We need billions and billions of dollars to keep up with our bridge repairs and our road repairs," Maynard said.

Guerrera introduced a bill last year that would have placed "electronic" tolls such as E-ZPass at the state's highway borders. Connecticut has been free of all roadway tolls since the late 1980s.

Guerrera said he wants his tolls legislation raised again during this year's session, which runs Feb. 8 through May 9. A vehicle entrance fee of $2 or so would be reasonable, he said.

His 2011 bill was similar to one introduced by state Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia. Both bills received public hearings, although neither one emerged from the Transportation Committee.

Guerrera believes there is a greater urgency this year because Rhode Island is now considering tolls on Interstate 95 near its border.

"We're going to really be behind the eight-ball if they do it," he said.

Maynard said he wants to explore the use of new technology such as radio frequency identification that could make tolling easier and cheaper for residents who live near the border or commute across it.

Border tolling "will allow us to capture a lot of out-of-state revenue that is being foregone right now," Maynard said. "While our neighbors are hauling it in Massachusetts and New York and New Jersey, we're sitting there not getting any."

Maynard said he believes Connecticut must eventually do something to ease its reliance on gasoline taxes for transportation funding because that revenue stream will decline as vehicles gain fuel efficiency or become electric powered.

State Rep. Ed Jutila, D-East Lyme, is asking the chairmen to raise an updated version of a bill he introduced last year to allow tolls on the proposed 8½-mile extension of Route 11. The revenue could help pay for a portion of the project, if it proceeds.

Jutila said that a revised Route 11 bill would clarify how the tolls must be electronic and be limited to just the future portion of the highway.

j.reindl@theday.com