Electronic Tolling Bill Clears Connecticut Transportation Committee
HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) - A bill that could lead to electronic tolls on Connecticut's highways has cleared its first legislative hurdle.
The General Assembly's Transportation Committee voted 18-to-13 on Wednesday in favor of a bill that would require the Department of Transportation commissioner to develop a program for tolling.
The commissioner would be required to report back to lawmakers with details of the plan no later than Jan. 1, 2016.
Lawmakers amended the bill to ensure toll revenue would only be spent on transportation. More changes are expected.
Sen. Scott Frantz of Greenwich opposed the measure, saying tolls are just another tax and wouldn't raise enough revenue to deal with the state's massive transportation infrastructure needs.
Rep. Antonio "Tony'' Guerrera, the committee's co-chairman, challenged the tolling opponents to come up with alternatives for generating revenue.
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