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NORWALK, Conn. – A proposal to bring back tolls on some Connecticut highways was met with skepticism and a tinge of hostility Monday by Norwalk residents.
Connecticut has not had highway tolls in almost 30 years, but the proposal being debated in the Legislature in Hartford calls for new tolls at the borders to help raise revenue and to lower the state’s gasoline tax.
Norwalk residents on Facebook were largely unimpressed by the plan, but a couple appeared at least willing to listen.
“The most ridiculous idea I have heard in a long time,” wrote Ted Habza.
Marjorie Partch agreed. “I think we should keep them away for the same reasons that they were removed years ago: added pollution, added traffic delays, added accidents, and not that much added revenue.”
The proposal, recently introduced in a legislative subcommittee, has a long way to go before it might even be voted on the General Assembly, much less implemented.
“If we go into New York or Massachusetts we have to pay tolls,” wrote Michelle Beauton Knockwood. “Why not here, too, on the borders? The money raised should go towards roads and bridges, not the general fund.”
Amy Armstrong Koepke wrote that she would not like them but might listen. “Would hate them, but I always said it was stupid to take them down. The on/off type are so much better than the stop-every-few-miles ones, and with EZPass, life is better/safer.”
Norwalk had a toll on Interstate 95 between exits 16 and 17.
“Don't care about the extra cost,” wrote Brinley Ford Ehlers, “but I do care about the extra TRAFFIC that tolls would cause!!!!”
Louis Imperato agreed. “Don't care about the extra cost either. As long as the money stays ON THE ROAD!!! Not into any other General Fund that's discretionary. Nowhere else.”
But for Linda Faucher-Swallow, the answer was simple. “NO, NO & NO.”
Comments (18)
VIRUS ALERT
PLEASE BE CAREFUL AS PONY TAIL STEVE HAS ONE AGAIN POSTED A LINK TO A VIRUS. HE WILL SAY ITS NOT BUT OF COURSE THAT WHAT TROLLS DO.
ALSO PLEASE BE AWARE THE TROLL ALSO POSTS AS
JIM T
MRS NELSON
Thanks for the heads up jrey
lmao
That lie is getting old Timmy
Ideally if it were only out of state drivers, that would be nice. However the tolls are not going to happen, nor the out of state drivers taxes.
But hey, MORE TAXES that's the new world we live in right now. A toll is just another tax. Just what we need!
Here is a link to useful information and also cited why in 83 the tolls were removed.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/rpt/2009-R-0122.htm
This is a great idea especially if it cuts the gas tax.
Who introduced the idea in the state legislative subcommittee? We need to know.
well we as a cityt have indeed received many things including new traffic lights replacing the old well working ones,we are seeing new paving bricks and new lights all around Norwalk with State money it all came in grants Duff never thought the State wouldn't want some of the money back some day?
What did Duff or even Larry get back from the countless housrs Norwalk directs traffic at broken signal interesections run by the State,or running up to the Merritt to cut someone out of a car?
It is what it is keep giving Moccia grants we don't need and of course the State even Hal are always telling us about the millins of dollars in Sate aid that buys art bricks lights and even tourist brochures so why complain we get plenty from the State why complain now just pay up and go on.
We live in a city of great handouts some are great some are not.Police get a segway and then what gives it to Laz to drive around on yes it was free.
I see a toll geting back some of the States investment in a crime ridden city where a destination it isn't so get the money from t everyone.Where else is the city going to get more grants to pay for things at Stepping Stones?
Lets not forget the Tranist Hub in Norwalk who paid for new terminal where the city shines in crime,some older person was assaulted there yesterday hope the cameras worked if thye do they may be the onkly ones in the city.
Lets not forget the State coming up wit overtime to sit and watch Woodward ave for two months and curb crime,then the day after the funds ran out another shooting so yes Garnt money needs a backer why not Norwalk?
Nothing is for nothing and all grants are paid by the taxpayers no matter how soft the sell is by Dick.
Take all the things grants have paid for and have a sale,those police defibs have never been found have they?Amazing for years our hands have been open and now shame on the State they want some money back....
There are grants that have been useful and serve the entire city and then there is that new parking lot at the South Norwalk train station that at a huge cost to the city remains unused.But what a deal for Dearing I would say a large supporter of city grants like them wouldn't mind toll plazas we are all sure Dick will find a way to have them hired low bidding doesn't always mean the job ask the Mayor its not Norwalks money or is it?
Lest thank our politicians for holding all comments till the end of their term.
I can't wait for my trip from exit 14 to 16 to take even longer, this is going to be so much fun!!
So easy to just sit there and say "cut spending!" but not so easy in real life to find where cuts can be made. Also easy to say there's a lot of fat on the budget but not so easy to identify it. Plenty of our legislators have gone to Hartford with such promise-filled aspirations, and guess what?
It is a continued delusion that we can cut our way out of our financial problems.I'm not saying tolls are the answer, although states like New York and Massachusetts do charge virtual entrance & exit fees and such an idea could be explored here.
Nobody likes paying taxes and everybody, no matter what their social strata, thinks they're paying too much already. It's the price we pay for living where we do. Don't like it? Move. Just that simple. Your indignant outrage at such a concept has no more or no less validity than anybody else's.
Its just as easy to say that it cant be done instead of just doing it. Its not difficult at all. Just sit down and start over. Fund emergency services and essential govt services. After that start looking into social programs or oyther non essentials & carefully decide what you want because we CANT keep them all. When you reach the budget limit thats IT, no more. Our legislature wont do what needs doing because they all need to court the votes of those on the programs draining us dry. Norwalk should be rolling in dough right now given the tax rates. My family moved here in 76 paying 500 a YEAR in property taxes, its over 10,000 for the same house now. Thats an increase of over $9500 in 37 years, a 20 fold increase, 2000 %. how many people who were making 250 a week in 76 are making $5000 a week now? Nope, no matter how you look at it we are overtaxed in a big way with little to show for it.
I have zero problem with tolls at the borders but wouldnt want them miles into the state. The intent should be to get road users not from here to pay a share and commuters to pay a greater share than the rest of us because of the added stress their job choice puts on our roads.
I agree can't cut what we need but we can cut some of the grants they are always presented by the Mayor as gifts not funded by the taxpayers,why can't the State just give itself a grant to replace the tolls?Using Moccia math it would mean no taxpayers money would be used.
Once upon a time, there used to be stickers on the sides of the gas pumps that actually stated how much money went to local, state and Federal entities. Those days are LONG GONE. Now we have the gas tax, which everyone who drives, pays. Rich and poor alike. But we don't know how much of the price of a gallon is going to the local, state and federal groups.
My concern is that if they start using the tolls again, in a few years, it won't be enough and the tax on the gas will creep back up. And all we'll see is just the increased cost of gas.
However, not everyone uses our major highways. Like most of the buses, which are either totally local or trundle along Route 1. Yes, there are charter buses on the interstate that pass through or are chartered runs that use 95. But the majority of them are on local roads. And they all pay the gasoline tax.
I still don't like the idea of tolls at all. Nope, not one bit. But I fully realize the State is desperate for revenue and they are going to do what they are going to do. What about putting tolls on the highways when you enter the state? "Connecticut welcomes you, now fork over your dough." Oh, I hear Greenwich squealing already! New York does it on major bridges in a big way. That should cut the tax on the gas somewhat and the out of state traffic that would just pass through would also be contributing.
Pagieiie
You say
But the majority of them are on local roads
Thats is so untrue. when and where do you see charter buses on the local roads??
I see charter buses on local roads all the time. I live in South Norwalk. Charter buses are constantly going to and from the Maritime Center. They also go to our high schools to bring bands and sports teams to and from those locations.
@ Murray that is the dumbest idea I have heard today.Not to mention I believe it would be illegal to pick and choose who pays a toll and who does not.
Do you want the states around us doing the same thing?
How about instead of tolls the state curbs it spending,I mean it is a novel concept.
A better concept may be a toll system that exempts cars registered in CT. Out of state vehicles would be charged while in state vehicles would not.
We were promised that if we succumbed to a state income tax, we would not have to be taxed via tolls. If you want a traffic snarling toll system, fine. Kill the income tax.
I agree. I think we should put tolls up on the borders of the state on major highways. I dont mind just taxing out of state drivers but I doubt that will ever pass.