Infrastructure and Transportation

The northeastern United States has the oldest infrastructure in the country. While strategic additions are needed, we must invest in maintaining our transportation infrastructure (roads, rails, ports, and airports), as well as our water and energy delivery systems and waste management facilities. It will be more difficult to attract investment when we are at a competitive disadvantage with other parts of the country that may already have a more favorable climate, lower labor costs, and less tax burdens. Quality of life in Connecticut will decline unless we act now to bring our state into the 21st century. Reasonable taxation for targeted purposes is necessary. But we also must assure the taxpayers that those accounts will not be raided the first time we have a minor budget crisis.

It’s quite simple. As Wikipedia says, “Investment in infrastructure is part of the capital accumulation required for economic development.” If Connecticut is to retain jobs, create new economic opportunities, and maintain our quality of life, investment in our infrastructure is vital. Without all of the elements of functioning infrastructure, our quality of life will decline. But saying it doesn’t make it happen. We need to be willing to pay for infrastructure, lest we under-invest and lose those most vital assets on our balance sheet.

Most water and wastewater systems are maintained by your monthly bills. The cost of the electrical distribution system is paid through your monthly bills, no matter whom you buy your electricity from. But when it comes time for new treatment plants or water main replacement or electrical distribution enhancements, there’s no capital fund for that unless government comes in and pays for most of it.

The transportation system is paid for by gas taxes and motor vehicle fees and other oil company taxes. But with the oldest parkways and interstates in the country, and the most heavily-used rail line in the country, there is a tremendous upkeep required to stay ahead of the maintenance curve. And major federal infusions of funds are necessary for major rehabilitation projects and any system expansion.

All of these infrastructure systems must be in place and integrated if Connecticut is to provide the kind of environment that will support business and residents, allow free and easy movement of people and goods, maintain our quality of life, and assure competitiveness with other places around the country and the world.

As Governor I will advocate for directed taxation and honest budgeting based on credible transportation planning. Taxes and fees intended for infrastructure will not be diverted. One of the appropriate uses of state bonding is infrastructure improvement. We will be judicious in issuing debt and see to it that our bond rating is not compromised or our debt burden overextended.