Author Archives: admin

1 Local Transportation Entity. 1 Ransomeware Attack Defeated. 3 Takeaways.

How did San Francisco’s Muni system stop a ransomeware attack that held its system hostage? In 3 steps:

  • Shut down electronics- opened fare gates & shut down ticket machines
  • Contacted Homeland Security
  • Relied on its technology team to restart the system from a backup

The success of Muni’s actions:

  • Friday night the electronic ticketing shut down, by Monday the system was up and running
  • No confidential information was obtained by the hackers
  • Muni never communicated with the hackers…

Editorial. Speed Limits. 3 Reasons Speed Limits Should be Under Local Control.

Ft. Worth Star Telegram editorial lays out 3 reasons speed limits should be controlled locally and not by Austin lawmakers:

  • If the state lowers the default residential speed limit, there will be no funding for additional patrols
  • The city would benefit from assessing street safety to determine appropriate speeds
  • The city can already lower the speed limit itself, so why is a Ft. Worth citycouncil member pushing this idea?

Ride Share and Accessible Options. Schwertner Bill fits the bill.

The ride share issue: accessibility for the disability community

Do local ordinances require accessibility standards? In Austin, TX, yes.

Is it working? Not according to the former chair of Austin’s Capmetro accessibility board

Does Sen. Schwertner’s SB 176 require acessibility? Yes, and a surcharge is levied on companies that do not provide accessible service.

KXAN | Smaller TNCs struggle to fill gap in accessibility after Uber, Lyft leave

Port Infrastructure Fund. Interim Recommendation. What you need to know.

The Select Committee on Ports Interim Report recommends a fund to fund port projects, the key points:

Why a fund?  Texas ports are “responsible for over 30% of the Texas gross domestic product and are integral to the Texas manufacturing and energy miracle that sustained the Texas economy.”

How would the fund work? Provide loans similar to the Texas Mobility Fund 

What’s the fund’s timeline? 2017 should set the parameters. 2019 sets the funding amounts. 

 

State #3 Pay as You Drive Swap for Gas Tax

State #3 to move toward swapping the gas tax for pay as your drive: Colorado

How is Colorado implementing as pay as you? In December Colorado’s Road Usage Charge Pilot Program will begin with 100 volunteers.

What should I know about the pilot program for pay as your drive ?

  • 100 volunteers
  • no money will be paid for the miles
  • it will test the exchange of information of mileage reporting and revenue collection
  • 4 month duration

Governing | Should a Mileage Tax Replace the Gas Tax?…