The Connecticut General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Appropriations reported an alternative budget out of committee earlier this month, largely along party lines, that continues the ongoing budget battle between Governor M. Jodi Rell and legislative Democrats.  Governor Rell’s budget allocates more to transportation than the Committee’s bill.

According to the Office of Fiscal Analysis’ Appropriations Committee report, both rail and bus operations would receive less in the Committee’s bill than in Governor Rell’s budget: close to $4.3 million less per year for rail operations and approximately $64,000 less for bus operations. Ridership on CT Transit rose nearly 5.5% from 2007 to 2008, an increase of approximately 1.4 million trips, and rail ridership reached record levels last year.

The Governor also proposes to continue funding for Dial-a-Ride service beyond that required by the Americans with Disability Act at FY 2009 levels. The Committee’s budget cuts the non-ADA program entirely, but restores matching grants to municipalities that provide their own Dial-a-Ride service, dedicating $3.1 million in FY10 and $5 million in FY11 for this purpose.

On the road and bridge side, the Governor’s budget proposes to fund the Town Aid Road Grants Program at $22 million for FY 2010 and FY 2011, a cut of $8 million from FY 2009, while the Committee budget bill cuts the program entirely.  However there are indications that these grants may be funded through bonds instead.

Image: TSTC graphic. (The committee budget adds municipal matching dial-a-ride grants of $3.1 million in FY10 and $5 million and FY11 into bus operations; those grants are netted out in the TSTC graphic.)