Category Archives: 2017 issue

Regulatory TREND. High Speed Rail. Learning from tall HSR bridges in California

Where are these bridges on the HSR route? roads that cross the HSR path

What measurement stanadard was used? 27 feet clearance above the top of the rails

How tall is that? You could double stack Shinkansens trains beneath them

How does this compare to other HSR projects?

  • TEXAS
    • Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas: “at least 19 feet of clearance.” 
  • FRANCE
    • operate with 21 feet of clearance

 

Slate | Why Did California Build Such Tall Bridges Over Its…

Regulatory TREND. Autonomous Vehicle Task Force. 4 Goals in Texas.

Goal of Texas Department of Transportation Autonomous Vehicle Task Force:

  • one-stop resource for information & coordination
  • oversee all ongoing CAV projects, investments and initiatives in Texas
  • document public & private entity efforts
  • facilitate partnerships

Task Force Membership details being worked out.

Refreshing our recollection: the Texas AV Proving Grounds Partnership is a collaboration among:

  • the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI)
  • The University of Texas at Austin’s Center…

Read the Bills. 6 State Approaches to Direct Sales.

The freemarket argument in support:  franchise laws are a “well-intended regulation is used by a group of people [auto dealers] to maintain an artificial monopoly”

 

Electrek | Tesla launches new multi state effort against direct sales ban 

Lege Trend. Anatomy of Direct Sales Auto Bill in the East. + Response from Auto Dealers that would make Emily Post Flinch

Connecticut Legislature is again considering H5285 (CT | 2019) to allow direct sales of automobiles by Tesla.

Connecticut is 1 of 16 states taht do not permit direct sales.

The response from autodealer association:

  • Tesla is laying off employees
  • Tesla is having problems with producing its $35,000 auto

Tesla’s message:

  • Tesla does not want any tax break
  • Tesla wants no handouts
  • Tesla wants to invest in stores and in job

Hartford Business | New governor and legislature, same Tesla bill

Local TREND. Lege TREND. Anatomy of a Scooter Deal. What happens when start ups play nice?

How did this start? Portland started a 4 month pilot program with scooter companies that involved data sharing. The report from the pilot program.

What did the data sharing report show?

  • short car trips replaced in 34% of scooter use
  • fewer accidents
  • reduce congestion
  • reduce pollution

What takeawy did Portland have? “It is better to ask permission and work with local regulators than risk being run out of a community.”

Are there examples of what happened when scooter companies didn’t ask for…

Refreshing Recollection. 1989 Texas High-Speed Rail Authority. The legislation. The Powers.

  •  SB1190 (TX |1989 created the Texas High-Speed Rail Authority.
  • SB1190 (TX |1989 gave the THSRA these powers:
    • eminent domain
    • 11 member panel
    • charged to determine whether high-speed rail  was in the public interest
    • award a franchise to operate a high-speed rail service to the most qualified applicant
  • HB 2390 (TX | 1995) abolished the THSRA
  • A final report from Executive Director Marc H. Burns stresses the need for state involvement:

    • “The State should retain planning and oversight…

Business TREND. Texas Central Rail Top 100 Infrastructure Project. New Report. What you need to know:

Report is by: CG/LA, a national infrastructure advocacy group

The report:  Strategic 100 North American Infrastructure Report

What analytical factors are considered?

  • Contribution to global, regional, and national competitiveness;
  • Contribution to local and regional economic productivity;
  • Job creation potential over the lifetime of the project;
  • Business opportunity in the next 3-18 months, and over the lifetime of the project;
  • Carbon efficiency / Sustainability;
  • Country’s track record for…