Lt. Governor Fedele.
Last month, the presumed Democratic candidates for Governor spoke broadly about transportation policy in Connecticut at a forum hosted by Keep Connecticut Moving. Last week was the Republicans’ turn, with Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele, former Ambassador Thomas Foley and MetroHartford Alliance President Oz Griebel in attendance.
Most of the candidates said the state needed a “stable and reliable” funding mechanism to support the Special Transportation Fund (STF), which is likely to run a deficit at the end of this year. However, only two offered specific proposals.
Lt. Governor Fedele called for the creation of a Port and Transit Authority which would provide revenue for the Special Transportation Fund, which is currently reliant on the General Assembly for yearly allocations. Fedele also asserted that legislators needed to stop “stealing” money from the STF and moving it into the state’s General Fund as a way to balance the budget.
Greibel raised the possibility of restoring the State’s gas tax (which was cut by 13 cents during the Rowland administration) and implementing high-speed electronic tolling to pay for transportation investment in Connecticut. Greibel also suggested adopting a constitutional amendment that would guarantee a certain amount of annual revenue for the fund, with the state determining how to raise or dedicate that revenue.
On most other transportation issues the candidates were light on details. Each framed transportation as integral to economic development and job creation, and most expressed support for investment in a variety of transportation options including high speed rail, light rail, freight, maintaining existing infrastructure, and expansion of interstates like I-95 and I-84. No candidate mentioned bus as a viable transportation option or spoke to the importance of walking and cycling to the broader transportation system, which was disappointing given the clear need for better pedestrian and cyclist accommodations along the state’s busiest roads. Only Greibel mentioned the need to connect land use to transportation in a brief aside about transit oriented development.
The gubernatorial campaign is still in its early stages. Given the State’s precarious financial situation, both Democratic and Republican candidates will need to fine-tune their platforms to provide a clear view of what they view as the state’s priorities for transportation investment.
Image: Ryan Lynch/TSTC.
Oz, is the only one of the lot that can make the right decisions to deal with the next tough three to four years. He’s a Wizard. Just watch him.