A majority of Connecticut residents say they oppose installing electronic tolls on state highways, according to a poll released Thursday.
The poll by Sacred Heart University’s (SHU) Institute for Public Policy, done in partnership with the Hartford Courant, reported that 58.8 percent of 1,000 respondents oppose tolls, with the largest resistance coming from those between ages 45 to 64 (64.5 percent) and 35 to 44 (63 percent).
Those figures mirror poll results the Fairfield-based university published in March, despite months of lobbying by Gov. Ned Lamont and other toll advocates.
The governor, according to several media reports, is not giving up on getting a vote on tolls before this year’s legislative session ends Wednesday, June 5, even though he suggested last week the issue could be tabled for a special session.
According to SHU’s latest poll results, collected through phone interviews and a digital survey by GreatBlue Research between May 10 to May 23, there is more support for tolls if revenues are spent strictly on transportation improvements. Just over 51 percent of respondents said they would back tolls with the guarantee that revenues will be strictly allocated for transportation improvements and repairs.
When asked how to best fund infrastructure repairs, respondents slightly favored using toll revenue (33.2 percent) instead of borrowing funds.
The strongest opposition to electronic tolls is among those earning between $50,000 to $100,000 (63.2 percent) and those earning $150,000 or more (60 percent).
Lesley DeNardis, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy and director of SHU’s master of public administration program, in a statement said the public has not wavered on its majority opposition to tolls.
“Opposition to tolls has remained steady over the last few months,” DeNardis said . “Postponing a vote until a special legislative session this summer suggests the administration needs additional time to make its case.”
The margin of error in the poll is plus or minus 3.02 points. This poll was SHU’s first in partnership with the Courant.
Recent estimates by the state Department of Transportation said the 39-mile trip from New Haven to Hartford could cost in-state drivers $1.72 during peak hours and $1.36 during less busy periods.
The 41-mile trip from Stamford to New Haven, meantime, was estimated to be the most expensive trip between tolls, costing residents $1.80 during peak hours and $1.40 during off-peak hours.
Lamont has estimated that installing no more than 50 toll gantries across state highways could generate $800 million per year in gross revenue by 2023, with 40 percent being generated by out-of-state drivers.
