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LEGE TREND. Keystone State. Ride Share Bill. 4 Take Aways.

Pennsylvania Governor signed a new ride share bill this week that will:

  • A local Philadelphia tax of 1.4 percent tax on all Uber and Lyft rides will be divided up between Phila dephia’s schools and the Philadelphia Parking Authority which had imposed ride share regulations
  • Creates regulatory framework for Transportation Network Companies
  • $50,000 application fee
  • Criminal background check for drivers. =No fingerprint requirements

PA SB 984

Philly Voice | Governor Wolf to sign bill…

25% of November Bond Propositions are Transportation Bonds.

The Texas Comptroller tracks bond elections. Its a handy spreadsheet for data junkies.

On November 8th, 12 of the 50 bond measures tracked are for transportation projects:

  • Amarillo $89.5 million for streets
  • Austin $720 million for transportation and mobility
  • Bellaire $24 Million for streets, drainage and sidewalks
  • Hays Co. $131 million for transportation improvements
  • Hunt Co. $24.5 million for transportation
  • Parker Co. $76.2 million for transportation projects
  • Willis Point ISD $42.5…

TREND: Electric and Self Driving Cars. Boon for Electric Industry.

  • It’ll be an economic boon for the electic industry.  
    • Gone will be stagnant load growth with demand increasing
    • New business models will encourage distributed, clean energy resources.
  • Will bolster smart grid development
  • Support Charging Station Development

Utility Dive | How the coming boom in electric and self-driving vehicles will transform the grid

Business Trend: Ride Share. Long Rides.

This is like 2016’s version of hitch hiking, minus the serial killers that American films say exist only in the realm of hitch hiking. 

A new business trend for the exponential growth in the sharing economy:

  • OpenRide
  • It’s ride share for long distances
  • Openride has deals with 60 music festivals

The Street | Long Distance Ride Sharing – The Next Big Sharing Economy Trend

 

Texas Transportation Shortfalls Hamstringing Texas Ports.

Texas Ports need transportation infrastructure. The transportation woes of the Port of Houston hing on these details:

  • From 2010 to 2015 truck traffic went from 10,000/day to near 30,000 trucks per day
  • Truck traffic is set to grow by 2X again
  • the problem isn’t funding- port operators would likely chip in
  • the problem is—-TXDOT

Houston Business Journal | Congestion could stifle Port of Houston growth, CEO says

Transportation Bonds. Bipartisan Support. Centennial State.

Colorado legislature is gaining bipartisan support for fudning state transportation via bonds. The info you need:

  • Colorado is falling behind on transportation funding every year
  • A Republican, chair of Senate Transportation Committee, has a $5.5 billion bond package that would require voter approval
  • The bond package has bipartisan support
  • The bond package does not dedicate funding for bond service
  • Some opposition is rooted in future budget writers will have less revenue to compensate for…

Calhoun Port Authority, Port Expansion. 3 Reasons Why.

Calhoun Port Authority is adding a new ship pier for these reasons:

  • Matagorda Bay has been an active port for 400 yhears
  • Matagorda Bay needs to accomodate larger ships and this pier will accomodate ships up to 145 feet wide and 900 feet long
  • Economic Development. Economic Development. Economic Development

Funding for the project includes a federal cost share agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers.

Victoria Advocate | Port expansion will help regional economy

Ride Share v. Taxis= Dogs v. Cats = Apples v. Oranges. Your Informed Intel:

  • 7th Circuit Appellate Judge Richard Posner analogized: cities license dogs but not cats. Some people are dog people. Some People are cat people. Some people like ride share. Some people like taxis.
  • Ample service differences between ride share & taxis that justify different regulations

Chicago Tribune | Appellate judge: Taxis and Ubers are dogs and cats when it comes to regulation

Western State Revises Self Driving Car Rules. The Info you Need:

California revised its state regulations for self driving cars by adding:

  • Require cars to comply with the federally proposed 15 point NHSTA assessment
  • Permits no human driver or steering wheel if the car is in 2 way communication
  • Car manufacturers are not pleased as the NHSTA requirement impacts current and scheduled self driving car testing

California’s revised rules

Fortune | Toyota Tech Director Calls California’s Proposed Self-Driving Car Rules Preposterous