LWVCT Offers Limited Support for Tolls 03/22/2011
Transportation 11 Transportation committee SB31, HB5849,6136,6200 on tolling Members of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut recognized the critical importance of Transportation for Connecticut by designating transportation as a legislative priority. Transportation is critical to keeping our economy viable, our workers working and making Connecticut competitive and modern. The League continues to believe that the principal goal of any transportation policy must be the reduction of all vehicular traffic on Connecticuts roads. The return of tolling to Connecticut is inevitable. With diminished revenues from traditional transportation funding sources like the gas tax, electronic tolling is the wave of the future in transportation financing. The League strongly supports the usage of tolls as a congestion reduction measure and revenue generator for the State Transportation Fund. While we strongly support the usage of tolls as a congestion reduction measure and revenue generator for the State Transportation Fund, we oppose the placement of tolls at or near Connecticuts borders for the following reasons: 1. Locating tolls near Connecticuts borders is vulnerable to legal challenges. 2. The effort will do nothing to address Connecticuts congestion problems that cost the state upwards of $500 million a year in economic activity, continue to pollute the States environment. 3. Locating tolls at the borders would hinder regional economic growth. Thus, the League can offer only limited support for proposed bills SB 31, HB 5949 and HB 6136 as they focus primarily on establishing tolls at the States borders. We also believe that HB 6200 is not addressing the fundamental problem of highway congestion and infrastructure funding. Instead, we urge the Transportation Committee to support tolling options that will offer more benefit for Connecticut residents: congestion pricing. We suggest that this program would be most effective in Southwestern Connecticut, the hotspot for the States highway congestion. Congestion pricing in this area will allow the State to more efficiently use limited roadway space and more effectively distribute vehicle trips to less congested times of day. This is feasible because a large portion of peak hour trips are discretionary.Congestion pricing would encourage those optional trips to be shifted to less congested times of day. Based on this experience, the program could be expanded to other impacted areas. Respectfully submitted, Jara Burnett Transportation Specialist, LWVCT Transportation 11 Transportation committee RB 5940 FINAL The League strongly supports the concept of overall future planning in RB 5940 AA Requiring the Creation of Strategic Plans for Passenger and Freight Rail Service. We note the proliferation of bills, many of them subject to this public hearing, requesting planning and funding for various rail and bus roads across the state. We believe that an integrated, and comprehensive approach to transit improvements must include coordination among all facets of transportation: highway, rail, air and marine modes of travel. A piecemeal approach will inevitably result in waste of already limited resources. If the state is going to be successful in achieving reforms, we need to understand the needed steps, costs paybacks and relative merits of various proposals. Input from various constituencies will be needed to achieve a comprehensive plan. Thus, coordinated planning is critical to move the state forward. Thank you, Jara Burnett LWVCT Transportation Specialist Statement of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut to the Appropriations Committee Public Hearing, February 25, 2011 Support for the budget for the Department of Transportation in the Governors proposed budget, HB 6380 AAC the Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2013 Members of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut recognized the critical importance of Transportation for Connecticut by designating transportation as a legislative priority. Transportation is critical to keeping our economy viable, our workers working and making Connecticut competitive and modern. During these difficult economic times, transit is needed more than ever. Availability of affordable transit is of critical importance to the states economy and environment and to the quality of life for all residents. We support the Governors proposed budget funding for transit operations. It is responsive to the needs for fiscal restraint and yet it maintains sufficient funding for the critical bus transit operations. We thank the Governor for recognizing this need and recommending no fare increase. An investment in transit projects generates short and long-term jobs needed to get our state's economy started again. We urge your consideration to funding the following transit needs: Sincerely, Jara N. Burnett Transportation Specialist February 24, 2011 Hon. Daniel P. Malloy, Governor Hartford, CT VIA FACSIMILE Dear Governor Malloy: On behalf of the membership of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, I want to thank you for keeping the much-needed funding for transportation projects in your budget. The League has long advocated for a transportation system for Connecticut that would be interlocking, multi-modal and balanced. We applaud your proposal to fully commit “funds necessary for 38 new rail cars for Metro-North and Shoreline East, to fully fund our other rail lines and to hold the line on new fare increases for bus and rail.” We have advocated for these measures since 2008 as shown below.
We look forward to working with you to help create a 21st century transportation system. Sincerely, Jara N. Burnett, Transportation Specialist Transportation 11 Transportation Transition Working Group
December 22, 2010 To: Mr Al Goff and Mr. Brian Mercure Dear Sirs: Since 2005, members of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut have continued to adopt Transportation as the legislative priority reflecting the importance our membership of over 2.100 places on the issue. We share the Department of Transportation’s stated goal to provide a safe, efficient and cost-effective transportation system that meets the mobility needs of all its users. The League also believes that the transportation system must be balanced, interlocking and multi-modal and that the principal goal of any transportation policy must be the reduction of all vehicular traffic on Connecticut ’s roads. Much has been put in place recently to shift our state toward a revamped transportation system that recognizes the need for mass transit. However, the state now needs an experienced and talented transportation chief who will continue to implement the paradigm shift needed to overhaul the transportation system through the development of priorities and goals that rely on non-vehicular alternatives. Members of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut urge you to appoint a Commissioner of Transportation with a proven track and experience to: · recognize that the old approaches are not working; · consider long-term solutions to traffic congestion; · explore innovative approaches to traffic solutions; · adopt a “Fix-it-first” policy instead of new highway construction; · expedite completion of those highway projects currently under way that hold the greatest potential for reducing bottlenecks; · change the department’s culture and retrain they department’s personnel to plan and implement these concepts. We are enclosing the League’s 2011 Transportation Priorities. We look forward to a successful completion of the transition and appreciate this opportunity to provide input. Sincerely, Jara N. Burnett LWVCT Transportation Specialist Transportation Priorities | Advocacy:
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