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The Hub: Proposed House Bill Could Severely Impact State DOT

A proposed bill in US House targets ConnDOT

It’s true that that House Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman John Mica proposed to cut federal funding to the Connecticut Department of Transportation by $1.5 billion over the next 6 years.

What’s murky is whether the proposal is a political ploy or genuine possibility.

According to one Congressional source speaking to Patch on background, it isn’t likely Mica’s bill will make it out of committee.

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Still, Mica’s proposed cuts would severely impact the state DOT, according to the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a regional transportation policy watchdog group, It would put the department at risk for losing $246 million in 2012, or 34 percent of annual federal transportation funding. Moreover, Tri-State said the cuts could mean 9,000 jobs lost.

Connecticut DOT has already lost 480 jobs under the recent rounds of layoffs, said DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick.

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In addition, the group said Mica’s proposal would curtail critical road and bridge repair and maintenance work across the state, and could threaten projects like the New Haven-Springfield Rail Line and Hartford-New Britain Bus Rapid Transit.

“We have not seen any formal language for either of the two bills (Mica's and Boxer's), only brief summaries,” Nursick said.

“While we generally support a longer-term bill — like 6 years — because it allows us to plan more effectively, it would have to have adequate funding levels. Through the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (www.transportation.org) we have consistently supported a 6-year, $580 billion program. We would rather see a shorter-term bill of 1 to 2 years at current funding levels than a longer-term bill of 5 or 6 years with levels drastically below what states now receive.”

Transportation bills are done on five-year cycles. The current cycle ends in October. That means there is pressure to get a transportation bill out in advance of the October deadline.

Much of transportation funding comes from the gas tax, revenues have declined significantly in recent years because people are driving more fuel-efficient cars and driving less because gas prices are so high.

Most agree there will be a three-month extension of the current law. So while it won’t affect DOT budget, it will make planning tough.

Even so, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign said the Nutmeg State should be wary.

“The next federal transportation bill will impact Connecticut’s transportation system for years to come. If Connecticut residents want safe, affordable, efficient transportation options, now is the time to urge Congress to oppose these cuts,” said Ya-Ting Liu, Federal Advocate for Tri-State Transportation Campaign. 

According to Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s analysis of ConnDOT’s 2010-2014 capital program the state heavily relies on federal monies.

Federal sources account for 64.4 percent of the state’s transportation funds, 62.2 percent of the state’s transit program, and 67 percent of spending on the state’s highway and bridge program comes from federal sources.

The proposed cuts are on top of the recent debt ceiling agreement.

Discretionary spending grant programs, such as TIGER, New Starts, Sustainable Communities Regional Planning, and High Speed Rail are particularly vulnerable, said the watchdog group.

That’s on top of cuts already in place because of the  “Plan B” budget which would also cut the state’s Special Transportation Trust Fund by $225 million over two years.

“Connecticut residents need safe roads and bridges, modern buses and trains, and a transportation system that supports a 21st-century economy,” said Ryan Lynch, Connecticut coordinator for the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. “This is an ill-advised plan that would make it harder to get around the state.”

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