Monthly Archives: October 2017

Lege Trend. 2 Step Background Check for Ride Share. No Fingerprint. Other States Eyeing it.

Maryland has a two step background check for ride share drivers that does not include fingerprinting. Here’s how it works:

  • The ride share comapny runs a background check
  •  “paired with rigorous oversight by regulators”
    • no new screening
    • its like a meticulous audit to make certain the ride share company complied

This Maryland model is being considered in other states, because Maryland results include:

  • 15% of drivers are booted by the regulators
  • 95% of the booted drivers are…

Is this the new transportation funding anthem? Your Alternative Fuel Car is Costing Us Money for Roads.

A Utah task force recommended transportation funding solutions that include a tax for alternative fuel cars.

State Representative Schultz (R-Hooper). said “”I think it’s important that those that drive on the roads pay for it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair that alternative-fuel vehicles get away scot-free without paying their fair share.”

Fox 13 Now | Your alternative fuel car is costing Utah money for roads

3 Proposals to Fund Mass Transit in a Big City. Includes Real Estate Fee.

Proposals to fund mass transit in New York City include:

  • Congestion pricing
  • Creating a “transit-maintenance district”
  •  Adding a $1.50 charge to the core business district’s $60- to $70-per-square-foot rents since high rise buildings benefit the most from mass transit

Crain’s New York | Former MTA executive pitches real estate fee to fund mass transit

Local Trend. Pilot Program for Ride Share & Taxis to handle late night events.

The District of Columbia Department of Transportation  (DDOT)is testing a pilot program to handle night life traffic.

The pilot program will include:

  • converting parking spaces to late night loading zones for taxis and ride share for pickups
  • the department of transportation partnered with the business district, Golden Triangle BID, to solve the late night traffic congestion
  • ride share companies share anonymized rider data with DDOT to help refine the location of the pilot

City Lab | D.C.…

Legal & Lege Trend. EV Fee Unconstitutional? 2 Points= you're informed.

  • Oklahoma Legislature passed Motor Fuels Tax Fee (HB 1449) to tax/impose a fee on EV ($100) and hybrid cars ($30)
  • The OK Supreme Court declared HB 1449 unconstitutional because:
    • HB 1449 was a revenue bill passed in the last five days of session
    • As such, HB 1449 needed three-fourths of the legislature’s support.

Oklahoma House Bill 1449 (2017 Regular Session)

News On 6 | Another OK Legislature ‘Fee’ Deemed Unconstitutional 

TREND. EV Truck Platooning. 4 Key Points.

  • Tesla is set to unviel its electric self driving truck in Novmeber 2017
  • The economics of truck driving has shown the greatest efficiency with a platoon of trucks
    • 7-8 trucks driving in close proximity
    • effectively reduces diesel costs for regular trucks and can reduce battery use
  • Long range (900 mile) EV trucks are thought to be cost prohibitive unless robotic battery changing (not charging) stations are available
  • Self driving electric trucks will focus on short range trips

MIT…

TEXAS INTERIM CHARGES. 10 Transportation Charges. Energy. Trade. Tech.

House Committee on International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs 

#2 Transportation Barriers to Trade.  Review the current state of infrastructure at Texas’ international shipping ports and border ports of entry in Texas. Identify transportation-related impediments to international trade and estimate the impact of those challenges, including border wait times, on the state’s economy. Make recommendations for improvements to facilitate international trade and economic growth. (Joint charge…

Anatomy of a Local High Speed Rail Fight in Maryland. 4 Points from the Opposition,

Where: Prince George’s County

The opposition arguments of the local officials: 

  • the high speed rail cuts through neighborhoods 
  • the high speed rail runs too close to schools
  • vow no taxpayer supported funding for the project
  • “eliminate any chance the project can seize land from private citizens” by changing eminent domain laws

WTOP | Prince George’s Co. leaders vow to derail plans for high-speed train

Campaign Trend. Voters Approve Tightening Transportation Funding.

Voters in Lousianna approved a dedication of funds to transportation from an increased gas tax.

The gas tax has not been increased in 28 years and has not yet been increased.

The dedication of gas tax increase funds to transportation projects was seen as the major hurdle for approval of a gas tax increase.

Governing | Louisiana Voters OK Measure to Tighten Transportation Spending