Murphy: Gas Tax Hike Should Be Considered For Funding Connecticut Transportation Projects
STAMFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy says it might make sense to raise the gas tax in Connecticut to help pay for road and transit projects.
Murphy, D-Conn., said he's not married to the idea of tolls or a higher gas tax, but added there needs to be a funding mechanism for transportation improvements.
He noted that the federal gas tax hasn't budged since the 1990s.
"We've got to do a better job of explaining that when the gas tax goes up by 1 cent, the way the formula works, Connecticut gets 1.6 cents back," Murphy told WCBS 880's Paul Murnane.
A long-term transportation upgrade proposed by Gov. Dannel Malloy calls for a $100 billion investment over 30 years.
"The emperor kind of has no clothes," Murphy said. "If you don't have the funding, then all of these people who are saying they're going to fix the roads are lying to you, so you have to be able to come up with a funding source if you want to change things."
So far, Murphy has gathered more than 400 commuter comments and suggestions for how to tackle the problem.