Gov. Ned Lamont’s new budget proposal would keep Connecticut on pace to dramatically accelerate the rebuilding of its aging highways, bridges and rail lines. But that increase also could leave the transportation program needing new revenues in three years, and some legislators already have begun exploring new ways to pay for it — including a potential surcharge on certain delivered goods. The $55.2 billion biennial budget that Lamont proposed Feb. 5 includes a nearly $2.3 billion Special Transportation Fund for the 2025-26 fiscal year and a $2.4 billion plan for 2026-27, boosting spending about 4% in each year. The STF reserve, which holds annual surpluses from the fund, rose over the past three years from $241 million to almost $972 million, according to the state comptroller’s annual reports. That cushion account was slightly larger than 45% of last year’s entire transportation fund.
Lamont budget calls for CT to ramp up transportation projects