I-684 Could Get Tollbooth For Trucks Only

The Nutmeg State's idea of charging a toll for driving the 1.4-mile stretch of I-684 that is actually in Connecticut has taken a new turn. There, House Democratic leaders are calling for Gov. Ned Lamont to have truck-only tolling at a dozen bridges on Connecticut's highways including the one in Greenwich (on I-684).

I-684 is the "interstate highway" that runs down the east side of Putnam and Westchester counties. That's Westchester County, New York. The highway runs from Brewster (in New York) to Rye Brook (in New York).

The toll plaza would go in a part of I-684 that does not include exits or entrances. The toll gantry would be sandwiched between the exit for the Westchester County Airport to the south and the exit for Armonk, home of IBM, to the north.

Connecticut House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz and Majority Leader Matt Ritter said their plan would keep 12 of Lamont's 14 proposed toll locations except for a spot on Route 9 (little truck traffic) and Route 15 (no trucks allowed).

The plan is anticipated to raise $150 million annually. Ritter and Aresimowicz said the plan would be legal since it only has tolling on select bridges in need of repair.

"Trucks do 80 percent of the damage to our roads and bridges and many come from out of state," Ritter said. "We believe that the truck-only tolls on select bridges in a manner similar to what other states do, are legal and will provide Connecticut with the revenue stream needed to secure low interest federal transportation loans."

Earlier this year Lamont proposed a plan with 50 toll gantries, but it failed to get momentum in the state legislature. Lamont is proposing that tolling start in 2023 with 40 percent of toll revenue being shouldered by out-of-state drivers. Truck-only rates would be similar to rates in New York.

By Rich Scinto, Patch Staff