[nep321]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I would not be surprised if the state used tolls to replace the Punam Bridge. The bridge is at the end of its useful life and needs replacement. That is a good $100 million plus that the state does not have. Jay

I thought that the Putnam Bridge was built in the early 1990's, right? And I thought it was recently resurfaced. The thought of it collapsing is rather frightening.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by nep321

I thought that the Putnam Bridge was built in the early 1990's, right? And I thought it was recently resurfaced. The thought of it collapsing is rather frightening.

No it was built in the 1950's. They did do repairs over the past year and that is suppose to give them another 10 years of life but the design of the bridge is troublesome and will need major repairs again most likely before that 10 years time. In terms of getting a new bridge designed, permitted and built, 10 years is not a long time. Jay

[JayCT]

Oh yeah, the Putnam Bridge is NOT going to fall down anytime soon. The bridge is inspected regularly and if it is any comfort, the head of ConnDOT's Maintenance unit lives in Glastonbury and crosses it daily. Jay

[ctcoldplay11]

Route 11 needs to be finished. Period. If you lived in this area, you'd feel the same way! We've been waiting THIRTY years; I think SE CT has been pretty patient.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by ctcoldplay11

Route 11 needs to be finished. Period. If you lived in this area, you'd feel the same way! We've been waiting THIRTY years; I think SE CT has been pretty patient.

Could it be worse than the 30 miles of stop and go traffic every day on 95 and 15 in SW Connecticut?

[JViello]

Originally Posted by JayCT

No it was built in the 1950's. They did do repairs over the past year and that is suppose to give them another 10 years of life but the design of the bridge is troublesome and will need major repairs again most likely before that 10 years time. In terms of getting a new bridge designed, permitted and built, 10 years is not a long time. Jay

Maybe, one can hope, going forward they design a bridge in this state that doesn't have the asthetics of a commuter lot.

Light up the Macaroni (Arrogoni) bridge too while your at it.

[LINative]

Originally Posted by JViello

LOL I hadn't even thought about that, but I think you are right!



I'm still with my original idea years ago.

Put the tolls on the state border, and give cars with a CT tag or speedpass a "free pass" and charge out of staters for using our highways. CT is obviously small enough that people don't stop to fill up and contribute via the gas tax. Instate tolls I am totally against, unless the abolisht both the gasoline sales tax and gross receipts tax on the wholesale level.

$29 to get from DC to CT along I95 until you hit CT and it's "free". Glad to help.

I am not crazy about raising tolls, but your idea is not the worst idea in the world.

If Connecticut does this, I would strongly recommend New York follow suit. It would be a little encouragement for people to stay in their own state and spend their dollars for shopping, entertainment and tourism in their own state. I realize it would hurt border communities and commuters to the city but the alternative would be to keep raising taxes. Also, while it might hurt truckers, it might take some freight off the highways and onto the railroads.

[AnonChick]

We can't put up a toll at the -entrance- to Connecticut on I-95, because New York already has a toll there for the privilege of leaving their state. The entrance to I-95 on the other end near Rhode Island already has too much constricted traffic; adding a toll would turn it into complete chaos during rush hour.

We'd have to put toll booths at the -exits- on that highway. However, Rte 15 used to have tolls, and there's no toll at either end anymore. Truckers can't drive on it, so they wouldn't be burdened with a fee in addition to the DOT tax they pay to drive through or into our state. You could return a toll to the south end on the way to the Tappan Zee, and an exit toll on I-95. You can impose a a three-tiered toll for 15: State residents driving passenger vehicles pay either no fee, or get a pass for $20 good for unlimited travel for the whole year. Non-resident passenger vehicles pay $1.00 per toll. ALL combination vehicles, whether in or out of state, pay $1.00 per toll. Trucks on I-95 would be exempt but would have a modest increase in their state DOT fee, and penalties for not having the DOT sticker would triple to accommodate the cost to the state of carrying those violators on the roads.

[Lincolnian]

Another tax on working people.

[qjbusmaster]

Originally Posted by mkiv808

Could it be worse than the 30 miles of stop and go traffic every day on 95 and 15 in SW Connecticut?

seriously metro-north runs for a reason get over it