Monthly Archives: April 2016

Lege Overrides Veto on Transportation Scoring Project. 3 Keys Informed Intel.

Which Legislature overrode a Governor veto on a transportation project prioritization bill? Maryland

What was the objection to the transportation prioritization bill? 

  • More bureaucracy
  • Harms Local Governments by quashing its input in transportation prioritization
  • Harms hardworking taxpayers

Why did legislators override the veto? Transparency. The bill would require disclosure as to why a lower scored bill gets priority over a higher scored transportation project

AP via WTOP…

The $2.2 Million + Ride Share Local Election. Ride Share Ordinance Campaign by the Numbers

  • 5 weeks of fundraising left
  • Ride Share Comapnies have contributed $2.2 million
  • 7th of May is election day
  • The cost of Mayor Adler’s campaign: $1.2 million 

Statesman | Uber, Lyft donate nearly $2.2 million to effort to pass Prop. 1 in May

KUT | Uber, Lyft Have Spent More Than $2 Million on Prop 1 Campaign So Far

Trend: Local Governments Create Own Ride Share Like Apps. 6 Key Informed Intel.

Why are transit apps a growing trend with local governments? Surgning populations are straining roads

Did Denver, CO contract with a company to create its app? Yes, it contracted with Xerox

What does the Denver Transit App do?It allows a person to compare the time it will take to travel in various transportation modes. 

What types of transit information does the Denver app contain?

  • bike-share stations
  • nearby Lyft drivers
  • close Car2Go vehicles
  • open parking spaces
  • mass transit

Does…

2 Step Funding. 1 High Speed Rail Station in the Golden State.

How did San Jose secure funding for a high speed rail station? In 2 steps:

  • $200,000 from the state of California
  • $400,000 from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

How did the funding for the high speed rail station come to fruition? A partnership agreement with the California High-Speed Rail Authority

Does the agremenet include development opportunities? Yes, for transit development and for  economic development that  creates a “vibrant and urban mixed-use setting…

INTERIM. Ride Share Compromise in its Home State. Read the Deal. 5 Key Pieces of Intel. Know the Intel before it arrives.

The District Attorneys of Los Angeles and San Francisco broughts suits against ride share companies in late 2014. 

A deal has been reached between the D.A.’s and ride share companies. The key points:

  • Ride share companies cannot use current description of background checks an safety checks.
  • Ride share companies have a $10M fine, up to $25 million if they don’t comply in future years
  • Ride Share has to work with a state agency to ensure that the fees charged are fair and accurate
  • Ride…

New Threat to State Transportation Funds- Social Policies vs. Supreme Court Rulings

What state triggered a potential witholding of federal transportation funding? North Carolina

What law sparked this?   a new law that created a mandatory statewide anti-discrimination policy but which impacts gay and transgender rights

What is the rational for the withholding of the funds by the federal government? Whether North Carolina’s law violates the the Constitution and recent Supreme Court rulings; making the state ineligible for federal funding.

NYTimes | North Carolina…

$38 Billion Cost to Eliminate Tollroads. 4 Pieces Informed Intel.

TXDOT informed legislators on Wednesday that the cost to eliminate tollraods in Texas is $30 billion.

The reasons behind the $38 Billion price tag:

  • $21 Billion in debt held on state and local tollroads + interest and fees
  • $10 billion in debt with partnerships with private firms + interest and fees
  • This feeds the arguments of those opposed to government debt & who say local debt is too high
  • TXDOT has $13.4 Billion in non-toll related debt

Houston Chronicle | Eliminating tolls would…