Gov. Dannel P. Malloy released the following statement applauding Connecticut voters for approving a constitutional amendment during the Nov. 6 election that will guarantee that funding set aside for transportation is used exclusively for transportation projects:

"This is an enormous victory for our state's future as Connecticut desperately needs investment in transportation infrastructure. While surrounding states have made real investments, Connecticut has allowed our roads, bridges, tunnels and rails to fall into a state of disrepair, hurting our economy and making our infrastructure less safe for the traveling public. And although our administration has put forward detailed plans to bring the state's infrastructure back into a state of good repair and make much-needed upgrades, this constitutional lockbox is a necessary step forward to strengthening our state's economy and improving the quality of life for our residents.

"The economic cost of traffic congestion in Connecticut is between four to five billion dollars annually, and business leaders rank highway accessibility as their number one factor in deciding where to locate their businesses. We must take steps to support their growth and now residents will have the peace of mind that the revenues dedicated to transportation will actually be spent on transportation."