Tennessee Governor Haslam says Tennesee has a multi-billion dollar funding backlog in transportation.
To fix the state’s transportation system, he is considering a proposal to raise the gas tax, which hasn’t been raised in 25 years.
Monthly Archives: July 2015
Lege Trend: New Transportation Fee for Motor Vehicles
California license plates have a special coating that help facilitate the reading of license plates by electronic means. All liberty lovers, please note that the regulation at issue is a fee and not whether this coating is good or bad.
With that libertarian disclaimer, this license plate coating peels. In California, a license plate that is peeling, but still legible, generated a $1,000 fine.
Local Gov Trend: Businesses Support Sales Tax. More Transportation Funding. Improves Economic Development.
In Hillsborough, Florida business organizations are “gearing up to lead the campaign to pass a half-cent sales tax for transportation projects if county commissioners agree to put the tax on the November 2016 ballot.”
Business says lack of adequate roads and transportaiton funding is harming economic development.
One City. One Transportation Trust Fund. Pay as You Go with Sunsets.
Cape Girardeau, Missouri has a pay as you go transportaiton fund that works like this:
- Funds are held in a restricted account to fund a group of pre-established projects that are completed over a 5 year period.
- Projects are scheduled as the sales taxes were collected
- Always will be on a “pay-as-you-go” system.
- No bonds would be issued; thus no interest paid.
- Creates a user’s tax funded by citizens and visitors who use our streets.
- Sunsets every 5 years and requires citizen…
Tyler Editorial on High Speed Rail. 7 Reasons to be a No with an assist from Rep. Metcalf
Tyler Morning Telegraph brings us the reasons why high speed rail will not work in Texas:
- “This is Texas.”
- no population density
- no job density
- Texans love independence
- Texans love trucks (and cars too)
- There is no infrastructure of rental cars, hotels, meeting venues near hgh speed rail
- Government bailout will be required (relying on Rep. Will Metcalf statements)
UPDATE: High Speed Rail: Magnolia & Montgomery County are Watching You.
Houston Press & Houston Chronicle finally caught up with loyal Information Intelligence subscribers to tell us how local governments are forming commissions specifically designed to block high speed rail.
Information Intelligence on July 22, 2015:
Montgomery County and the city of Magnolia formed a regional planning commission to monitor the proposed high speed rail project.The current path of the high speed rail proposal does not cross Magnolia or Montgomery County.
Both local…
UPDATE Local Government Trend: Cap on Ride Share. 3 Ways Ride Share Won.
This week ride share company Uber and the CIty of New York reached a deal prior to the mayor pushing a vote on capping ride share. How did it work?
- Economic Message: Uber argued that a cap would mortally wounded it in its most important market, doubling and tripling wait times, degrading service, and driving away consumers.
- PR Push: “airwaves with ads saying Mayor Bill de Blasio wanted to destroy thousands of potential jobs.”
- Out of touch with tech & out of touch with minorities…
New CEO at Texas Central Rail (Texas High Speed Rail Project) & Support from a libertarian leaning Senator
Tim Kieth is the new CEO at Texas Central Rail. He is:
- from Dallas
- previously at RREEF/Deutsche Bank Infrastructure Investments, serving as global chief executive officer for 10 years
Texas Central Rail also garnered a $75 Million investment from:
- John Kleinheinez
- Drayton McClain
- Jack Matthews
One notable supporter, Senator Don Huffines, breaking from other conservative Senators Like Kolkhorst, who filed bills this year to limit the rail’s eminent domain authority:
Today’s…
New Ferris TX City Manager Challenged on Stance on High Speed Rail
Ferris City Council named Carl Sherman the city’s new City Manager. He is also mayor of DeSoto, an uncompensated position.
During the vetting process, Sherman was asked about his stance on high speed rail, something Ellis County Commissioners Court opposes. Sherman said he will be too busy running the city to get into politics like high speed rail.
New Public Private Partnership. A $10 M for Testing Grounds for Self Driving Cars
A partnership between the University of Michigan and motor vehicle companies is funding a 32 acre testing ground tfor self driving cars.
The Mobility Transformation Center is a public-private research institute that includes the testing area.