Public hearing on bringing back tolls

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WTNH)-- Word lawmakers will consider bringing back tolls on Connecticut highways has drivers stopping short.

"Who would want to pay a toll, that's all. I mean who would want to pay a toll," said an unidentified driver.

"Traffic will back up like crazy, like it used to. People don't stop, they run into each other. I just don't think it's a good idea, " said Hank Saunders.

He remembers driving on I-95 when it  had so called one arm bandit tolls along the highway.

They were pulled following a fatal accident in 1983, when a tractor trailer plowed into cars waiting at the toll, killing seven people.

This proposal looks at re-establishing tolls along I-95 and I-84, using an electronic payment system.

"Maybe that will be better. That's more to date, not as much time, but sometimes still delays traffic. I don't know how everybody else feels about it, but I'm not for the tolls," said Eileen Egan.
 
"The state makes enough money in taxes to be able to fix it. The tolls were supposed to support the fixing of the highways and the highways got in worse shape over the years, because the money went elsewhere," said Saunders.

The legislature's transportation committee is holding a public hearing Monday, allowing folks to weigh in on bringing back tolls.