NORWICH — Residents may soon see a spike in transportation fares and closed rest stops because of rising debt at the state Department of Transportation, Commissioner James Redeker told local officials on Wednesday.

According to Redeker, the DOT Special Transportation Fund has an exponentially expanding debt that doesn't let the department sell bonds — which had been a significant source of revenue. There is an anticipated $7 million deficit in 2019, and the department's Special Transportation Fund has lost a cumulative $4 billion since 1997.

Redeker links the skyrocketing debt to a 14 cent gas tax reduction that took effect in 1997, as well as reductions in staff and a bump in projects.

The gas tax in Connecticut is 25 cents, he said, which is the same as neighboring states such as New Jersey and Massachusetts.

"Those states have tolls, though," Redeker said.

Unless new revenues are appropriated to the Special Transportation Fund, bus fares will see a 15 percent increase and rail fares will see a 10 percent increase by 2019, he said.

"This is a state that relies heavily on transportation," Redeker said. "And we already have some of the highest rail fares in the country."

Per month, the average household spends $150 on cellphone bills and $91 on coffee. The average rail fare customer spends $362 a month, the commissioner said.

"I understand this is not just about transportation. This is education, health care and a career," he said.

According to Montville Mayor Ron McDaniel, increased bus fares present the risk for service cuts in the most densely populated areas of town.

"We are talking about one of the most vulnerable populations here," he said.

Further, with ride sharing alternatives becoming a more viable option, Ledyard Mayor Fred Allen said, a spike in cost may drive people away from using state transit altogether.

Town leaders also grappled with the news of state-owned rest stop closures, which Redecker said can threaten tourism but also present safety hazards for road-weary drivers.

Leaders proposed municipalities taking over local rest stops. Redecker also said volunteer caretakers or sponsorships may be an option to keep them open; however unions and liabilities present cause for concern.

Other leaders inquired after $4.3 billion worth of state projects that were recently delayed due to the depleted Special Transportation Fund.

In Lisbon, a bridge on Bundy Hill Road was slated to be replaced by 2019. The estimated $198,000 project is one of the smaller price tags to be chopped by the DOT, however the town has already completed planning and designing the project, First Selectman Tom Sparkman said.

"We were ready to begin this spring," he said.

Redeker said the project will be delayed.

"Today, we will not be authorizing any construction because there is no money," he said.