Monthly Archives: February 2018

Lege Trend. Killing Red Light Cameras and Speed Cameras. 1 Bill. 2 Point Opposition.

 

HSB 512  in Iowa would prohibit the “use of automated or remote systems for traffic law enforcement,” to ensure that both red light cameras and speed cameras cannot be used.

2 Points from the opposition in Iowa:

  • Question about whether safvety is ctually improved with cameras
  • The big brother aspect of camera monitoring

FOX 42 | New bill in Iowa legislature calls for end to red light and speed cameras

Governor: 3 things Holding Self Driving Cars Back

Michigan Governor, a former tech executive, says these 3 tings are holding back autonomous vehicles:

  • Public is slow to embrace the technology
  • Effective commubnication to the public of the benefits of self-driving and connected vehicles
  • Coordinated work by 3 levels of government:
    • federal government to regulate design of vehicles
    • state government sets traffic laws & build highways
    • local governments install connected streetlights & other infrastructure 

What does Governor Rick Snyder…

Funding State Transportation Projects via Ride Share Tax. Deep in the Old South.

The State: Virginia

The ride share tax: extending state and regional sales taxes to ride services

The ride share tax revenues will be dedicated to: 

  • “$21 million a year for mass transit systems across Virginia, replacing the use of state-backed bonds to pay for new buses”
  • $154 million a year for the ailing Washington-area Metro system
  • ” one-time bond payment of $50 million as Virginia’s share of a $150 million pledge with Maryland and Washington to collect an equal share of federal funding…

EV Requirements for Ride Share. The Bill Mandating EVs.

California Legislature is considering SB1014 (2018) that requires:

  • all ride share companies to have 100% EV fleets
  • By 2028
  • $300 Million in funds to help ride shre drivers move to EVs

Which agencies are involved?

  • The California Public Utilities Commission and the California Air Resources Board to set electrification targets

Los Angeles Times | California lawmaker wants all Uber, Lyft cars to be electric by 2028

High Speed Rail in the Land of Poppies Triggers Audit. 3 Factors Triggered the Audit.

California High Speed Rail, Phase 1, will  face an audit after these 3 things happened:

  • Projected costs for phase 1 of California’s high speed rail have risen by $3 Billion
  • A bipartisan group of legislators requested a formal audit
  • Concerns that the project will need state subsidies

Due to the projected cost increase, the audit will make the following recommendations:

  • how to accelerate the project’s timeline
  • reduce costs and identify other sources of revenue
  • best practices for approving…

1 Federal Rail Administration High Speed Rail Public Meeting. 12 Objections.

The Federal Rail Administration public meeting in Madison, County TX resulted in the following lists of objections:

  • The route uproots 2 cemetaries
  • The construction phase will require a 2 mile per side buffer zone 
  • unfounded economics
  • route opposition
  • opposition to land acquisition by s privste company using eminent domain
  • the large cost to be borne by taxpayers- eventually
  • the project does not serve the public
  • electromagnetic emissions
  • noise pollution
  • reduced land values
  • environmental…

Meet the Non-Profit Roadblock to High Speed Rail in California

The Non-profit:  Fresno Rescue Mission which feeds and houses the homeless

How the non-profit is holding up high speed rail: The non-profit is standing firm in its compensation request to receive adequate relocation costs

Are there other complicating factors? Yes, the City of Fresno leases space to the Fresno Rescue Mission

ABC 30 | Local nonprofit agency seen as obstacle holding up progress of High Speed Rail