HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - The president of the Connecticut Senate is the latest lawmaker to call for the Department of Transportation to scrap plans for increased rail and bus fares.
Democratic Sen. Martin Looney of New Haven announced Tuesday the DOT should cancel the proposed increase, which would take effect Dec. 1 and generate an estimated $5.9 million to help cover budget cuts. Looney says DOT should instead prioritize its spending.
Other Democratic and Republican legislators have called for stopping the proposed 5 percent fare increase on the Metro-North commuter rail lines and Shore Line East. DOT, which held public hearings last month, is also considering a 25-cent increase in the standard one-way fare on state-wide CTtransit bus services.
House Republicans recently turned over more than 1,700 signatures from constituents who oppose the hike.
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