Petition Circulated To Stop Planned Rail Fare Increases In Connecticut
HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A state representative is circulating a petition with the aim of stopping a proposed five percent fare increase on Connecticut's commuter rail lines.
Gail Lavielle (R-Wilton) contends commuters are not seeing transit service improvements in return for the increase proposed by the Department of Transportation. It is scheduled to take effect Dec. 1.
"People are just very upset that they're being asked to pay more money for a quality of service that's not improving," Lavielle said.
The increase would affect the New Haven commuter rail line, including the New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury branches, as well as Shore Line East. It's expected to generate $5.9 million to help cover budget cuts.
Lavielle and her colleagues are riding the rails in the coming days to collect signatures for the petition, which asks the state to raise the money by instead taxing admission tickets to some of the state's large recreational arenas.
DOT is holding public hearings on the proposal later this month in Hartford, Meriden, Waterbury, Stamford and New Haven.
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