Connecticut House and Senate leaders on Saturday endorsed Gov. Dannel Malloy’s historic transportation agenda that will lead to the largest transportation investment in state history.
This budget, which keeps annual increases below 4 percent, will transform Connecticut’s transportation system to create jobs, boost the economy and improve quality of life. The agreement, which includes billions of dollars for transportation over the next decade, was achieved by dedicating a half-cent from the state’s sales tax – which will remain flat at 6.35 percent — to modernize Connecticut’s rail system, rebuild roads and transform travel. Transportation projects will be fully funded for nearly a decade, allowing the state to plan, design and complete many of Malloy’s long-term projects.
Malloy said the budget is historic because of the agreement’s transportation component.
“We were able to make the biggest investment in transportation ever without burdening the middle class,” Malloy said. “When I took office, we had few shovel-ready projects, and our failure to invest over the decades has artificially held back our economy. However, the smart decisions we make in this agreement will deliver a brighter future for Connecticut in the long run.”
The budget provides for replacing the mammoth highway interchange in Waterbury, known as the “Mixmaster,” and the Hartford Interstate 84 viaduct. It also will allow Connecticut to complete the Hartford Line, running from New Haven to Springfield, and to increase service on the New Haven Line via improvements to all branch lines, including New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury. The budget also includes historic, first-of-their-kind investments in local bike and pedestrian improvements throughout the state.
The budget provides a $2.8 billion increase for infrastructure over the next five years, bringing the transportation investment to approximately $10 billion during the same period, when planned capital spending and federal funds are included.
