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Schumer: New Tolls On I-95 In Connecticut Will Jam Up Westchester Streets

PORT CHESTER, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) Lawmakers in Connecticut have been discussing bringing tolls back to Interstate 95.

But as CBS2's Lou Young reported, residents across the state line in New York are worried that such a move could jam their local streets with traffic. And they have a powerful lawmaker on their side.

"The toll would be here, and all the traffic would be diverted all through here," said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) as he pointed to a map.

Schumer was talking about the idea floated in Connecticut about reestablishing tolls on I-95 in Greenwich – and motorists promising to use local roads to avoid paying.

"It's going to be huge traffic, because already the tolls are killing people," said Saeed Varadkhan of Rye Brook.

"I would definitely try to avoid it. I don't know if I can," added Nick Reda of Rye Brook. "I don't care if it's 10 minutes out of my way."

New York state residents are worried that the streets of border towns, such as the village of Port Chester, would become clogged with motorists trying to take a free ride.

"Everybody's going to come, cut -- cut through and go through Port Chester," said Anthony Labrosciano of Thornwood.

Schumer said New York state lawmakers should be involved in the discussions about the tolls.

"We want them to talk to us," Schumer said, "not after they make a decision, but right now in the early planning phases."

Connecticut did away with tolls on I-95 after a truck rammed cars stopped at the toll plaza – killing six people – in 1983.

New York, though, kept its toll plaza at New Rochelle. Since then, toll collecting has changed – E-ZPass eases congestion on the highway – but the financial incentives for hopping off and going around remain.

"I think it's going to make things very congested -- more accidents, and you know, just a lot more traffic and a lot more impatient people," said business owner Jheri Ciaccio.

But for those on the Connecticut side, there is an upside.

"The state needs the economy; the money too," said Tony Labrosciano, who owns a business in Greenwich. "So you know, it's going to help. It's going to help the state."

The Connecticut Department of Transportation will make its recommendations on the I-95 toll at the end of April. A compromise could involve placing the plaza further from the state line.

The New York lawmakers said if they are not happy with the location, they will try to block it in Washington.

Because the toll is proposed for an interstate road, the Federal Highway Administration would have to approve it.

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