Lamont: Highway tolls off the table as Biden signs infrastructure bill

To improve roads, Connecticut is getting $3.5 billion. That means extra lanes on I-95, I-84 and the Wilbur Cross Parkway. There's also half a billion dollars to fix bridges and $53 million for new electric vehicle charging stations.

News 12 Staff

Nov 15, 2021, 12:24 PM

Updated 1,059 days ago

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President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill into law Monday with Gov. Ned Lamont in attendance at the ceremony.
News 12's John Craven spoke with Lamont Monday. Lamont told Craven this money is a game-changer for Connecticut.
The governor says Connecticut residents will see these changes pretty much everywhere.
To improve roads, Connecticut is getting $3.5 billion. That means extra lanes on I-95, I-84 and the Wilbur Cross Parkway. There's also half a billion dollars to fix bridges and $53 million for new electric vehicle charging stations.
Airports like Bradley and Tweed are getting $62 million. On the rails, $30 billion will go to Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.
At home, there's $100 million to expand broadband access.
"This is by far, the biggest transportation investment we've had since Dwight David Eisenhower," Lamont said.
When Lamont first took office, the state's transportation fund was essentially going broke.
"This money gives us an extra $500 million, $600 million a year to make investments that could really be transformative. We still have to pay our 20%," said Lamont.
Lamont said the new money means highway tolls are off the table for good.
Craven brought up the governor's office auditing the City of West Haven after a city employee allegedly stole $636,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. He asked how the governor's office will ensure money isn't wasted.
"What we can do is, make sure they have all the checks and balances they need to make sure West Haven can't happen anywhere else. You have double verification," Lamont said.
The money will arrive next year and runs for five years.