Transportation Committee advances package: dealer pricing, Shoreline East, rail studies and automated enforcement move from committee

The Transportation Committee on March moved a slate of transportation bills out of committee, advancing measures on motor-vehicle pricing transparency, Shoreline East rail service restoration, small-harbor funding, noise barriers, and expanded automated traffic enforcement to the legislative floors.

The committee approved a bill that would require car dealers to include any dealer conveyance fee in the stated advertised price and the selling price quoted to prospective buyers and to prohibit preprinting sales orders that indicate optional fees. Senator Cohen, one of the committee co-chairs, said the measure tackles a transparency problem that has surprised consumers: “Consumers still don't recognize or realize that, they will be charged conveyance fees, potentially at the last minute after working hard to negotiate down the price of a motor vehicle.” Several members said they remain concerned about the absence of a cap and said they want continued engagement; Senator Wong said he would vote no to flag the measure and to seek more input before the floor.

The committee also advanced a bill directing the Department of Transportation to restore Shoreline East rail service to its pre-COVID-19 level by July 1, 2025. Senator Cohen, who represents communities served by the line, urged colleagues to support restoring service to encourage ridership and local transit-oriented development, saying the state recently secured $5,000,000 to enhance the line and that service increases have already brought riders back.

Other bills moved forward included: - A requirement that DOT develop and publish a funding schedule for noise barrier construction by Oct. 1, 2025, based on an existing priority list; - A codification of the Connecticut Port Authority—s Small Harbor Improvement Program (SHIP) and related bond-account changes to allow grant distributions and certain dredging reimbursements; - A bill requiring DOT to study the feasibility of operating hybrid trains on the Danbury branch and to report by Feb. 1, 2026, while also requiring DOT to post Connecticut Public…