As Connecticut looks to ease traffic on its major highways, the state is considering tolls that charge fluctuating rates based on congestion.
State Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker recently told a crowd of Greater Hartford business leaders that his agency is conducting a congestion relief study that will identify ways to reduce traffic on I-84 in Hartford and I-95 between New Haven and New York.
One strategy being seriously considered is the adoption electronic tolls that charge varying rates depending on traffic counts, said Redeker, who was speaking at the MetroHartford Alliance’s March 21 Rising Star breakfast.
The method, known as congestion pricing, has been implemented by other cities, including New York, and can take several different forms, but the basic idea is to charge higher tolls during peak demand hours to encourage drivers to travel at less congested times of day or use public transit.
The strategy could include giving drivers a choice to use specially-designed, electronically-tolled express lanes.
Connecticut currently doesn’t have tolls, but the legislature has considered bringing them back to generate revenue for road, bridge, and other infrastructure repairs. So far, there hasn’t been enough political support to make that happen.
DOT’s 18-month congestion traffic study began in February 2013 and is being funded by a federal grant.
