It seems pretty clear that Governor
Lamont’s tolling idea is dead. The
Republicans say “no way, ever” and his own Democrats can’t muster the guts to
take an up or down vote because they’re so afraid of public reaction.
Oh, everyone in Hartford is still doing
the usual square dance, posturing and politicking, but I doubt a special
session to vote on tolls will ever happen:
tolls are dead.
But ‘lest the anti-toll forces should
start to rejoice, they may have won this battle but the war is far from
over. Because when tolls go down to
defeat, there are still plenty of “Plan B” options, none of which you (or they)
will like.
Our bridges are still corroding, our
highways are still potholed and our trains are running slower than ever. Transportation is grinding to a halt, and
with it our state’s economy. Something
must be done. The money must be found.
As one senior Lamont staffer told me,
“The Governor refuses to preside over another Mianus River bridge
collapse. We cannot put politics ahead
of peoples’ safety.”
It is clear that the Special
Transportation Fund (STF) is headed into the red unless additional funding can
be found. And if the STF is going to be
insolvent, the state won’t be able to borrow anything on Wall Street for
anything, transportation or otherwise.
Our bond ratings will rival a third-world nation.
So, if not tolls, where do we find the
money?
STOP WASTING MONEY AT CDOT: The Reason
Foundation’s claim that Connecticut’s DOT ranks 46th in the
nation in spending efficiency is bogus and has been widely debunked. Even if we could
save a few million by cutting CDOT waste, we still need billions to repair our
roads and rails.
RAISE THE GAS TAX: It hasn’t changed a penny since 1997, not
even adjusting for inflation. Like tolling, the gas tax would be a “user fee”…
though not paid by those driving electric cars nor by out-of-staters who don’t
buy gasoline here.
RAISE THE SALES TAX: Easily done but fairly regressive as it would
hit everyone in the state, even those who never drive on our highways. And again, out-of-staters get a free ride
assuming they don’t stop to buy anything passing through.
RAISE THE INCOME TAX: Another easy revenue source, but even less
popular than tolling and just as politically dangerous.
RAISE FARES & CUT SERVICE: This is what I call the Doomsday Scenario…
worsening train and bus service, driving more people back to their cars. It’s a sure way to save money, but at the
expense of those using mass transit and adding to traffic.
PARTIAL TOLLING: Maybe go back to the trucks-only option, not everywhere but
just on bridges most needing repairs?
Makes sense, but the toll cynics won’t believe it will be so limited.
VEHICLE MILES TAX: It works in Oregon, California and progressive
EU countries, but when the idea was floated years ago by Malloy’s Transportation
Finance panel it was immediately rejected. Democrats pushed through a law stopping CDOT from
even studying the concept. Paranoids
fear “big brother” would be following where they drive, forgetting that their
iPhones and Google (not to mention the NSA & FBI) can do so already.
Money for transportation will be
found. If you’re not a fan of users
paying their share (via tolling), get ready for the ugly alternatives.
Posted with permission of Hearst CT Media
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