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Connecticut Passes a Budget, But Fate of Transit Fares is Unclear

Last week, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a 2010-11 budget that is expected to become law without Governor Rell’s signature, concluding the longest budget stand-off in Connecticut’s history. The budget has received plenty of criticism from around the state, but strong opposition to proposed 40% bus fare hikes and 10% train fare hikes from earlier this summer seems to have paid off. No fare increases for transit riders are included in the budget package.

Or are they?

Approximately $8 million in operating funds ($3.9 million annually over the next two years) were cut from bus and rail subsidies at the last moment during negotiations.  This leaves a sizable gap in bus and rail budgets that could be filled by service cuts or fare increases. Some budget language suggests that these could occur as soon as October 1, but by law ConnDOT must propose fare increases and schedule public hearings 60 days prior to raising fares.

In the coming weeks, the Connecticut General Assembly will meet to discuss and vote upon a series of bills called “implementers,” which outline specifically how the budget dollars are to be spent and how cuts or service expansions are to be made. This means legislators have the opportunity to restore some or all of the operating funds that were cut during budget negotiations.

Rell administration officials have said that bus fares will likely stay flat, but it will be difficult to shield rail riders from a fare increase or service cuts.  A spokesperson from the state Office of Policy and Management told reporters that “even before the $3.9 million annual cut [in transit operating funds], there were serious questions about funding enough money to maintain service as it is, though we don’t know what the fare impact will be.”

 

Legislators have said they will work to reverse all of the cuts, but Connecticut residents need to keep the pressure on.  In the run up to the sessions scheduled to discuss implementers, tentatively scheduled for September 23rd or 24th, make sure you reach out to your elected officials in Connecticut to urge them to restore this much needed funding.

 

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