Using the two river boats to ferry yourself across the Connecticut River will put in direct contact with the state’s only tolls. Right now you pay $3 one-way for cars and walk-on passengers pay $1 but the Department of Transportation says those prices may double on July 1.
Legislators, including Clinton’s State Sen. Art Linares, R-Clinton object to the price hike but the Department of Transportation is the tollman. The Hartford Courant reports that Linares “criticized the proposed increases as ‘unfair’ and amounting to ‘a new and higher tax on the families’ in his 33rd District.”
The Connecticut River towns attract tourists eager to take a trip on the longest running river ferry in the USA locals use the ferry as part of their everyday commute.
“I am not a daily commuter but do use the Chester-Hadlyme ferry. I will not use it as frequently as I used to if the fare is going to be $6.” wrote Samantha Van Jeune on the Save the Connecticut Ferries Facebook page. “It's a shame though. I think doubling the cost is only going to hurt the ferries in the long run.” Linares wrote in a letter to the DOT Commissioner, “for local residents, the 100 percent increase in fares would discourage ridership while raising the cost of living and doing business.”
According to the newspaper, the DOT has scheduled hearings on the fare increases this month on May 20 at the Rocky Hill Community Center, room 1 at 6:30 p.m.; and on May 22 at the Chester Meeting House at 6:30 p.m.
If you’re opposed to the move, you can sign your name to a petition here.
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