Hartford — Connecticut's lingering budget problems are prompting questions about whether the state can afford Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's proposed 20-year, $100 billion plan to overhaul aging roads, bridges and rail lines.

Despite calls to put "people before projects" — a phrase used by family members of the intellectually disabled who are worried about Malloy's midyear budget cuts to human services — the Democratic governor is standing by his massive initiative.

He contends people don't understand how years of underinvesting in transportation have harmed the state economically.

"I think people seize arguments to try to bolster the point that they want make without examining the consequences of a lack of investment," he said in an interview with The Associated Press, adding how the traffic congestion cost in Connecticut is $4.2 billion annually.
http://www.theday.com/state-news/20151017/affordability-of-malloys-transportation-plan-questioned