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To the editor:
When I made the decision to run for state representative in 2014, I placed Connecticut’s transportation reliability and infrastructure as one of my top priorities. Today, I am pleased to serve on the legislature’s Transportation Committee.
Gov. Dannel Malloy addressed the General Assembly on Jan. 7 where he offered his support of tolls on I-95 to finance his transportation goals. While Connecticut clearly needs to more in its existing transportation infrastructure, tolls are not the answer. Instead, Connecticut should rely on its Special Transportation Fund.
The STF was created in 1984 to repair the Mianus Bridge and to create the Infrastructure Renewal Program. Revenues to the STF fund include primarily the state’s two gasoline taxes, and from other transportation-related fees and licenses.
In 2014, the STF was $1.243 billion. Unfortunately, $93 million was siphoned into the General Fund to help balance the budget. I have proposed a constitutional amendment to protect the STF and I am pleased the Governor has indicated his support. The state cannot afford to have any transportation funds used for non-transportation purposes.
Additionally, the state needs to set priorities within transportation funding. For example, the state recently chose to invest $500 million in a high-speed bus lane within Connecticut, and another $500 million on the Springfield-New Haven rail line. The first priority, however, should have been Metro North, the busiest commuter line in the country, serving nearly 150,000 commuters.
The members of the Transportation Committee will be reviewing many proposals to improve, finance and modernize our transportation system this session. I welcome your thoughts about improving our transportation infrastructure and/or reinstating tolls. Please contact me by phone 800-842-1423 or email to Laura.Devlin@housegop.ct.gov.
Laura Devlin
Devlin is a Republican representing the 134th House District for Fairfield and Trumbull.
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