Suzio concerned over rest stop closures; Asks if "mileage tax" study funds could instead be spent on facilities

Republican Senators Raise Questions About 

CT Highway Rest Stop Safety

Ask Whether Mileage Tax Study Funding Could 

Instead Be Spent on Facilities

Sen. Toni Boucher and Sen. Len Suzio on Mar. 6 wrote to the Connecticut Department of Transportation raising concerns about public safety and public health at Connecticut’s highway rest stops.

Boucher and Suzio, who serve respectively as Co-Chair and Vice-Chair of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, cited DOT’s recent announcement that there will no longer be any toilet facilities or portable toilets at highway rest areas in Danbury, Southington, Willington, Wallingford, Middletown and North Stonington.

In their (attached) letter to DOT Commissioner James Redeker, the legislators asked:

• Whether the lack of rest rooms will create a sanitation problem and if so, what precautions DOT is taking.
• Whether State Police will be available to ensure the safety of truckers using these areas to sleep.
• Whether the $300,000 the agency intends to spend from the department’s reserves to study a potential Connecticut Mileage Tax could instead be put toward keeping rest stop toilet facilities open.

Suzio has an online petition to de-fund the state’s study of a mileage tax at: http://ctsenaterepublicans.com/2017/02/sign-the-petition-de-fund-the-ct-mileage-tax-study/#.WL2YdoKQxjo

Boucher (www.SenatorBoucher.com) represents Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.  She can be reached at Toni.Boucher@cga.ct.gov and at 800-842-1421.

Suzio (www.SenatorSuzio.com) Cheshire, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown and Rockfall.  He can be reached at Len.Suzio@cga.ct.gov and at 800-842-1421.