House
Republican Press Release
April 26,
2006
Press
Office: 860-240-8700
HARTFORD- The state House of Representatives today
passed a landmark 10-year, $2.3 billion transportation package, which was
agreed upon by Governor M. Jodi Rell and legislative Democrats. The bill
provides for a massive overhaul and improvement of Connecticut’s highways and
mass transit in all corners of the state. It also manages to do this without
instituting tolls or increasing taxes. Representative Selim Noujaim
(R-Waterbury) voted in favor of the measure and said it would mean tremendous
improvements for not only his district, but the entire state.
“Commuters on I-84 don’t need to be told why we are doing
this,” said Representative Noujaim. “The conditions experienced on all of Connecticut’s major roadways have deteriorated to unacceptable conditions, and they are
routinely over-crowded and congested with every commute. This measure is a
tremendous leap forward in addressing the problem comprehensively and
state-wide.”
Representative Noujaim spoke on the floor of the House of
Representatives this afternoon ensuring that the Waterbury Rail Station was not
excluded from the project, noting that Waterbury is the only city in Connecticut without a public transportation system. The bill now includes capital
improvements on the Branch Lines, including rail station and parking
improvements.
Items scheduled for immediate implementation in the bill are
environmental planning for expansion on I-95 from Branford to the Rhode Island border, a preliminary design for widening I-84 between Danbury and Waterbury, as well as planning for improvements to Routes 2 and 2A, the expansion of Route
9, and upgrading of the Pequot Bridge.
The bill also implements a New Britain – Hartford bus way,
restoration of commuter service between New haven and Springfield, MA, rail car
renovation for use on Shore Line East, and the New Haven-Springfield Line, as
well as parking and stations for those lines. Approximately $1 billion of the
cost for the project will be bonded, while the remainder of the cost will be
paid for by the federal government and gross receipts tax on petroleum
products. The gross receipts tax will not be increased.
The bill now heads to the Senate for action there.
