Group Says Widening I-95 In Connecticut Is Waste Of Money
HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- A consumer group says a plan to spend billions of dollars to widen I-95 in Connecticut will be a waste of money.
Gov. Dannel Malloy wants to invest $11 billion to widen the highway to address some of its most notorious chokepoints in Stamford, Norwalk and New Haven.
Connecticut's Public Interest Research Group contends adding lanes will only pave the way for more vehicles and more congestion.
"The problem when you widen the highways is simple, more cars come onto the road," ConnPIRG director Evan Preston told WCBS 880's Sean Adams. "After that construction is completed you quickly fill back up the capacity on the road so that congestion does not get better, and in fact in some cases it actually gets worse."
The consumer watchdog would rather see that money go toward trains, buses and congestion tolling.
"We need to give people options so that they don't have to depend on their cars and can choose a way to get around the state," Preston said.
The governor's office insists a wider highway will ease traffic and keep businesses from fleeing the region.
