[Stylo]

Originally Posted by AntonioR

If they put tolls, I hope they adopt the most modern technology. In other words, tolls without toll booths and with no need to stop.

Absolutely would be the case.

[clutchrider]

Tolls at the borders if fine with me. So long as they make it like the EZ Pass system on the new Tappan Zee, no toll booths, no stopping. You either get your EZ Pass captured on the overhead that covers all lanes or you get mailed the toll fee with a way to pay online.

[in_newengland]

Tolls. And not stupid toll booths with some paid state employee taking your money. Do it electronically like MA does. And OUT OF STATE cars pay more--just like MA does. (Snag all those NYers just passing through on rte 84.)

[synchem]

I'm for tolls. I wonder how much traffic that would increase on 15. I can imagine the interchange of 15 and 91 on the weekend becoming way worse if all the interstates have tolls.

[robr2]

Points of discussion:

Any new tolls would definitely be electronic via EZ Pass or Toll by Plate - the cost of building, maintaining, and staffing toll booths isn't worthwhile and would create traffic

Any new tolls on interstates would have to be used for the benefit of that road only so no using I95 money to repair I84 or if an interstate were to be expanded

border tolling is discouraged as it effects towns along those borders/interstates as some attempt to avoid the toll.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by robr2

Points of discussion:

Any new tolls would definitely be electronic via EZ Pass or Toll by Plate - the cost of building, maintaining, and staffing toll booths isn't worthwhile and would create traffic

Any new tolls on interstates would have to be used for the benefit of that road only so no using I95 money to repair I84 or if an interstate were to be expanded

border tolling is discouraged as it effects towns along those borders/interstates as some attempt to avoid the toll.

It would have to be the the electronic type. Once it's built, there's no staff to pay and anyway the reason CT got rid of toll booths was because of a major accident at a toll booth. Toll booths are obsolete.

I more or less don't care what road is improved by the money earned--use it as needed. And start out with just one toll road at a time to see how it goes. Personally, I detest I-84 and see it used a lot by out of staters and they would be charged extra for being out of state. But if I-95 needed work, who am I to say that the I-84 money couldn't go toward I-95?

Border towns--I used to take I-95 to Maine and there are always side roads you can take if you want to stop at a store on the way. I don't think I-95 affected the border towns in a negative way but I can't be sure of that.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by robr2

Points of discussion:

Any new tolls would definitely be electronic via EZ Pass or Toll by Plate - the cost of building, maintaining, and staffing toll booths isn't worthwhile and would create traffic

Any new tolls on interstates would have to be used for the benefit of that road only so no using I95 money to repair I84 or if an interstate were to be expanded

border tolling is discouraged as it effects towns along those borders/interstates as some attempt to avoid the toll.

This is correct. All of the proposals for tolls are "open road" tolls which refer to placing readers on the roadways to read EZ Passes or the license plates of vehicles passing under them. No one would dare propose putting up the old toll plazas after the horror of Stratford back in the 80's.

You should know that the state can't just slap up tolls anywhere it wants. Tolls are prohibited on all interstate funded highways like I-95, I-91, I-84, I-691, I-291 and I-395. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has given Connecticut a pilot program approval however to implement tolls on I-95 from New Haven to New York and I-84 west of Hartford should the state proceed with plans to make major improvements to those highways. FHWA will definitely not allow Connecticut to just slap up border tolls or to charge Connecticut residents less than other travelers.

You could however see tolls added to state routes like Route 2, Route 15, Route 9, Route 7, Route 8, Route 25, Route 11 and Route 20. There is talk of funding the new West Rock tunnel on Route 15 with tolls as well as the extension of Route 11 to I-95 but I am not aware of any talk of placing tolls on already existing highways.

Also note that I saw mention of a special question being on the ballot in the November election that would put a Lockbox on the state's Transportation Fund. I believe that will pass with flying colors since most people are tired of the legislature raiding the Transportation Fund to balance their budget.

One thing everyone can and should do is let their State Legislator know their opinion. IF enough people do that it will make finding an answer to the problem a lot easier. IT is better than just simply complaining about things and I am surprised how many of our legislators will respond to inquiries and opinions. Jay

[seymourct]

The thing is ... Where would these tolls on Rte 8 be.. We have to go at least 1 or 2 exits up & down rte 8 just to get around our town of Seymour that straddles both sides of the Naugatuck River ... We only have 2 street river crossings in town ... Rt67 Bank Steet & rt313 Broad Street that are always very busy.. Almost everyone gets on and off 22 to 19, And back again at least once a day.. The next street crossing is rt334 Maple St Ansonia to the south of us & rt42Pine Bridge in Beacon falls to the north, neither of which help us get around Seymour...

[Wilton2ParkAve]

I'm fine with tolls provided we eliminate the property tax on autos. You can't have it both ways --- and I could care less where the dollars are allocated. I could come around if there are formal proposals to catalyze real change on the roads and rails (i.e. 95 widening or double decking). This would make CT even less appealing to new residents and businesses --- not surprising since we rarely think through the 'consequences' when our hand is out for $.

[Cambium]

Here are the previous Toll Threads:


2015: 52% votes No. 48% Yes.


2016: 46% No. 46% Yes. 8% Unsure.


I think I mentioned this in the previous Toll thread. Once you put tolls, (booth or not), on I-95, many people will make an effort to avoid it, and guess what that means... Extra on the already congested 2 lane Merritt Parkway. I voted yes, but man I would hate even 1 more car on the Merritt that wouldn't be there without tolls.