State transportation officials met Wednesday at Housatonic Community College to discuss ways to ease I-95 congestion.

The state says commuters in southwestern Connecticut spend about 40 hours a year stuck in traffic.

Tom Maziara, chief of planning at the Department of Transportation, suggested electronic tolling that can read E-ZPass from overhead. The state is also considering narrowing lanes and using shoulders to create an extra lane that drivers can pay to use. A study will be done to determine whether there's enough width to create an additional lane.

Bridgeport Director of Planning and Economic Development David Kooris says his big concern is the highway continuing to function through all the construction that would have to take place. The DOT will conduct a study due in January to address all of this.

Another meeting will be held Thursday in Hartford, which the public is invited to attend.