HARTFORD — Connecticut Republicans are pitching their transportation funding proposal, which they say negates the need for electronic tolls.
Senate Republican leader Len Fasano and House Republican leader Themis Klarides (THEHM’-his KLEHR’-ih-dehs) spent two hours Friday before the General Assembly’s Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee, arguing the Prioritize Progress concept would lead to an immediate investment in transportation improvements.
The plan reassigns borrowing for other projects to transportation initiatives.
Much of Friday’s debate focused on tolls. Fasano highlighted an email he obtained that shows Connecticut won’t be allowed to use toll revenue for commuter rail projects.
Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont’s office says that it “isn’t new news” and that “tolls must be used in areas in which they are collected.” But the administration contends tolling revenue will free up other revenue for rail investments.
