How’s your commute
going? Traffic getting worse? Trains still running late? As we all get back to work after the summer,
commuters’ frustration level is rising as it seems nothing is being done to fix
transportation.
Lawmakers in Hartford
couldn’t be persuaded to meet to debate tolling this summer, knowing full well
the votes weren’t there, so they just kicked back. But it seems that some on the Governor’s
staff were busy this summer trying to “reboot” his transportation plans. It’s to be billed as “CT
2030”.
May I be so bold as to offer
a few suggestions to the Governor’s team?
BE HONEST WITH US: Admit that Governor Lamont created this
transportation crisis by reneging on a legislative plan to put $170 million in
auto taxes into the Special Transportation Fund. By law, that didn’t violate the STF Lock Box
rule but it sure did so in spirit.
Lamont should admit that was a mistake.
We also need a full
accounting of CDOT spending and waste.
And an explanation of why CT does
so poorly on national rankings when it comes to the cost of
maintaining our roads. Scandals like the
CT
Port Authority & Lottery don’t instill a lot of
confidence for taxpayers.
PRIORITIZE: Rather than beating the dead horse of
tolls, let’s do an accounting of what needs to be fixed. When Governor Malloy rolled out his $100
billion, 30-year “Let’s Go CT” scheme he refused to prioritize. “We need to do it all, now,” he would
say. So naïve.
Surely the CDOT has a list
of what needs fixing first. Let’s see
it.
SAFETY FIRST: Whether roads or rails, safety must be the
top priority. Who can argue with the
need to replace a rusting bridge, corroding catenary or enforcing speed
limits? Safety isn’t shiny or sexy. It just saves lives, even if it’s often
invisible to commuters.
Stop dangling unachievable
goals like “30-30-30” or
one lawmaker’s fascination with Hyperloop in
front of us to distract us. Just focus
on state of good repair. Get the trains running on time, the interstate truck
inspection stations open, the speed limits enforced and prevent the bridges
from collapsing.
THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT
MONEY: Once
we all understand what needs to be done, with a list of priorities based on
urgency and safety, then we can discuss funding. Tolls are just one option. If you’re not a fan, fine… but you’re not
going to like the alternatives: sales /
income / gas taxes, fees, fare hikes or service cuts. There’s no “free lunch”, folks. Decades of delayed repairs will require
billions of dollars and we’re all going to pay.
STOP THE “NO TOLLS” BULLIES: The anti-toll forces, both grassroots
and lawmakers, have seemingly pounded a stake through the heart of user-fee
options to pay for transportation.
They’re tapped into the rich vein of Nutmeggers’ cynicism and distrust
of Hartford. But now they’re going a
step further, threatening
anyone running for public office with an organized campaign of
opposition if they support tolling… “Vote for tolls. Lose at the polls.”
I can see promising a State
lawmaker a hard time if they vote for tolls, but implying similar threats in
local municipal races seems unfair. Why
should a First Selectman or Board of Reps candidate, who doesn’t even have a
vote on tolling, be held to these bullies’ litmus test for loyalty?
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