HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - A clearly frustrated Governor Ned Lamont says he's hitting the "pause" button on truck-only highway tolls after lawmakers have failed to bring the matter up for a vote.
"I've lost patience," he told reporters at a Wednesday afternoon news conference. "Let's hit the pause button."
Lamont says he will instead turn to $200 million more in state borrowing to fund transportation upgrades. He says putting more on the state credit card will crowd out other projects. He declined to say immediately which ones.
He singled out the state Senate for not getting his CT2030 transportation plan over the finish line.
“In light of a potential unprecedented two-day, 30-hour-long debate, the Senate Democrats asked for five more days for our Senators to prepare and make necessary family arrangements," said a statement from Democratic Senate leaders. "We are still confident that Senate Democrats have the votes to pass a comprehensive transportation plan which includes 12 toll gantries on 18-wheeler trucks only."
To that, Lamont invited the Senate to go ahead, but insisted that he must move on to other priorities.
The message from the top Democrat in the House was a bit different.
"Over the past four weeks of trying to coordinate the scenario and date to pass a truck-only tolls transportation plan, it has become very clear that the political will to act was not there," said Democratic House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz. "I advised the governor that he needs to do what he has to do, and legislators will have to accept whatever plan he decides to go with now."