As the Connecticut legislative session continues, MTR is still watching bills that could help improve Connecticut’s pedestrian and cycling safety, foster a more transit-centered future, and lead to the return of tolls in the state — but only on new roads.

The vulnerable user bill, which would protect walkers, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users by penalizing careless driving, was reported out of the Transportation Committee last week by a vote of 24-12. The bill, which is sponsored by State Sen. Beth Bye of West Hartford, picked up two additional co-sponsors in Rep. Roland Lemar of New Haven and Rep. Frank Nicastro of Bristol and will now be taken up by the Judiciary Committee.  Advocates are still fighting to define “first responders” as vulnerable users in the legislation and are working to ensure the legislation does not raise the bar too high for effective implementation.  As currently written, only careless drivers that cause “serious physical injury” to vulnerable users would be penalized.

Red light camera legislation, on its annual pilgrimage to Hartford, was also voted out of the Transportation Committee, 25-11. This legislation would allow municipalities of 60,000 residents or more to “opt in” to a red light enforcement camera program.  This bill is presumably heading to the Judiciary Committee as well, and is being championed by Sen. John Fonfara, Rep. Hector Robles and Rep. Kelvin Roldan, all of Hartford.

A tolling bill also made it out of the Transportation Committee, 23-12.  This year’s bill authorizes ConnDOT to “establish tolls on any highway or highway extension constructed” on or after enactment of the legislation — i.e. on new highways and road extensions only.  The tolls would be removed when enough toll revenue to cover construction bonds and an “amount estimated to be required for maintenance and repair of the highway” is collected.

Thankfully, a bill that would have redirected money from the Hartford-New Britain Busway to an unplanned and unstudied commuter rail connection died without being considered for a vote, an indication of support for the project from the Transportation Committee leadership.  Supporters and opponents of the project recently met with Governor Malloy, whose staff has said is leaning towards supporting the busway. This bodes well for the long-delayed project, which has projected ridership of 16,000 people a day and will lay the groundwork for transit-oriented development along the transit corridor.