Lamont presented the legislature with two options: tolls for trucks only and tolls for trucks and cars
In his February budget address, Lamont said he’d only support tolls if there were deep discounts for in-state drivers, up to 40 percent or 50 percent compared to what an out-of-state driver would pay.
But discounts don’t necessarily alleviate the “regressive” nature of tolls. Put another way: if two drivers use the same roads the same amount, tolls hit the poorer driver’s wallet harder, regardless of any universally applied discount.
Now, Lamont is saying he’d also consider tax breaks.
“We could also do something on a tax credit or property tax to make sure middle class folks are not getting slammed by this,” Lamont said.
Massachusetts allows for in-state EZ Pass discounts. And for more than a decade, it’s let certain commuters deduct up to $750 in tolls from their state income taxes, but only if a driver paid more than $150 in tolls during that year.
And in addition to the tax question, any future tolling arrangements in Connecticut would also raise questions about how the program would be rolled out.
Lamont’s administration wants toll gantries up and running across the state by 2025 on Interstates 84, 91, 95, and Route 15.
But some lawmakers are pitching what they see as a quicker path to toll revenue: securitization.
That’s financial-speak for selling anticipated toll revenue streams to investors now, which would let the state get immediate cash in hand as soon as any tolling legislation passed.
Is that something Governor Lamont would support?
“I’d be very reluctant, but let me see the details,” Lamont told Connecticut Public Radio’s Where We Live.
As the Connecticut Mirror notes, such securitization arrangements can — eventually — lead to higher toll costs.
“I’m not really interested in selling off our public infrastructure,” Lamont said. “That doesn’t seem to make the most sense to me. But working collaboratively with the private sector, that’s something I would look at.”
Lamont said he also thinks state officials should consider establishing a separate transportation authority to oversee any possible future tolling programs.
“So legislators couldn’t raise tolls, unilaterally,” Lamont said. “This is the way they do it in New York and some other places. I haven’t gotten that far, but it’s certainly something I would think about.”
Looking beyond road tolls, Lamont said he wants train travel to go faster for Connecticut residents. He pointed to improved rail service as a key factor in resolving the state’s transportation issues.
This report comes from the New England News Collaborative: Eight public media companies, including The Public’s Radio, coming together to tell the story of a changing region, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
