OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sHB-5255
AN ACT CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
Primary Analyst: PM 4/7/22
Contributing Analyst(s): DD, MR, PR
Reviewer: MM
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 23 $ FY 24 $
Resources of the General Fund GF - Revenue
Gain
See Below See Below
Department of Transportation TF - Potential
Cost
See Below See Below
Treasurer, Debt Serv. TF - Potential
Cost
See Below See Below
Department of Transportation Transportation
Grants and
Restricted
Accounts Fund -
Revenue
Gain/Cost
400,000 400,000
Resources of the Special
Transportation Fund
TF - Potential
Revenue Gain
Minimal Minimal
Note: GF=General Fund; TF=Transportation Fund
Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 23 $ FY 24 $
Various Municipalities Revenue
Gain
See Below See Below
Explanation
Section 1 prohibits open alcoholic containers in the passenger
compartment of most motor vehicles operating on a public road and
creates a penalty of up to $500 for violations. This section results in a
revenue gain from to the General Fund from any fines collected. 2022HB-05255-R000380-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 4
This section is expected to bring Connecticut into compliance with
federal transportation law, which would remove a penalty that directs
a percentage of the state's federally funded highway construction
funding to the state's federally funded highway safety programs. This
would not impact the total federal formula dollars received by the state
but could lead to a reallocation of federal dollars between construction
and safety programs.
Section 3 prohibits parking within 25 feet of any marked crosswalk,
expands certain exceptions related to this prohibition and, to the extent
additional violations occur, results in a revenue gain to both the
municipalities in which these violations occur and to the state. The base
fine is remitted to municipalities and a surcharge is deposited to the
General Fund. In FY 20, 1,455 violations of the current statute resulted
in total fine revenue of $191,196.
Section 4 allows the Department of Transportation (DOT) to change
speed limits on limited access highways during a weather event or
emergency provided the Department installs electronic signs indicating
such speed limit.
The costs of variable speed limit systems (which can include
electronic and static signage, roadway sensors, and related
infrastructure) varies considerably depending on the number and
complexity of the systems. Based on other states' experiences, it is
expected that a fully built out site (consisting of approximately 8 signs
and related infrastructure) could cost up to $1.5 million in first year
capital and operating costs. Ongoing operating costs would likely be
less than $1 million in this example but would depend on
implementation and decisions made by DOT.
To the extent DOT exercises this authority and that the capital costs
of the systems are paid for using existing Special Tax Obligation (STO)
bonds, future Special Transportation Fund (STF) debt service costs may
be incurred sooner under the bill. This is dependent on the degree that
the bill causes STO bond funds to be expended, or to be expended more
rapidly than they otherwise would have been. 2022HB-05255-R000380-FN.DOCX Page 3 of 4
Further, installation of these systems is potentially eligible for federal
reimbursement at between 80%-90% but would depend on the specifics
of the project and, ultimately, on availability of funds and approval by
U.S. DOT.
Sections 7 through 10 make various changes to DOT's contracting
procedures and are not expected to have a fiscal impact.
Section 13 increases the fee for an electronically transmitted
oversize/overweight permit from $5 to $12 and imposes a new
engineering analysis fee on vehicles above 200,000 pounds. This section
is expected to result in additional annual fee collections of
approximately $400,000. Collections are deposited into the
Transportation Grants and Restricted Account Fund and are used to
support costs for the permitting system, resulting in an equal amount of
spending.
Section 17 expands DOT's authority to purchase property to include
property intended for use as a bicycle lane or multi-use trail and is not
expected to have a fiscal impact because any purchase, should it occur,
would be funded under the relevant project's budget.
Section 18 authorizes truck platooning in the state under certain
conditions, including approval of a plan by DOT. Violations of this
section are subject to a fine of between $100 and $150, resulting in a
potential minimal revenue gain to the STF (base fine) and to the
municipalities in which violations occur (surcharge).
Section 19 increases the fine for encroachment without a permit from
$100 to between $2,000 to $5,000 for each day of encroachment and
results in potential revenue gain to the General Fund. Encroachment
penalties have rarely been imposed under current law.
The other sections of the bill are technical, make conforming changes,
or otherwise do not have a fiscal impact to the state.
The Out Years 2022HB-05255-R000380-FN.DOCX Page 4 of 4
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to inflation, the number of violations,
the scope and cost of any variable speed limit systems implemented by
DOT, and the terms of any bonds issued.