Category Archives: 2017 issue

INTERIM. Sharing Economy. 5 Statistics about Taxi Use Decline.

  • Since ride share began in L.A. pre-arranged taxi rides fell 42%
  • Since ride share, the total number of L.A. taxi rides have fallen 30%
  • The impact of ride share is felt most by taxi service in tourist and nightlife areas
  • In San Francisco, the number of trips taken by taxi is down 2/3 in 2 years
  • The downturn in taxi use has hit taxi drivers most.
    • Taxi Drivers take home $400-$500 per week. 
    • Down from $800 a couple years ago

The decline in taxi ridership in Los Angeles mirrors trends in…

5 Ways Houston Port Growth Impacts Texas infrastructure

Does increased Port of Houston traffic only translate to more cargo ships?  No, it also means:

  • strains on local roads with large trucks transporting cargo goods
  • strains on railroad infrastructure as railroads transport cargo goods
  • port channel dredging
  • maintaining sturdy docks
  • Port Infrastructure

What part of the country does the Port of Houston serve? The goal is to make the Port of Houston  “the distribution hub for the central U.S., from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi…

The $2.2 Million + Ride Share Local Election. Ride Share Ordinance Campaign by the Numbers

  • 5 weeks of fundraising left
  • Ride Share Comapnies have contributed $2.2 million
  • 7th of May is election day
  • The cost of Mayor Adler’s campaign: $1.2 million 

Statesman | Uber, Lyft donate nearly $2.2 million to effort to pass Prop. 1 in May

KUT | Uber, Lyft Have Spent More Than $2 Million on Prop 1 Campaign So Far

INTERIM. Ride Share Compromise in its Home State. Read the Deal. 5 Key Pieces of Intel. Know the Intel before it arrives.

The District Attorneys of Los Angeles and San Francisco broughts suits against ride share companies in late 2014. 

A deal has been reached between the D.A.’s and ride share companies. The key points:

  • Ride share companies cannot use current description of background checks an safety checks.
  • Ride share companies have a $10M fine, up to $25 million if they don’t comply in future years
  • Ride Share has to work with a state agency to ensure that the fees charged are fair and accurate
  • Ride…

$38 Billion Cost to Eliminate Tollroads. 4 Pieces Informed Intel.

TXDOT informed legislators on Wednesday that the cost to eliminate tollraods in Texas is $30 billion.

The reasons behind the $38 Billion price tag:

  • $21 Billion in debt held on state and local tollroads + interest and fees
  • $10 billion in debt with partnerships with private firms + interest and fees
  • This feeds the arguments of those opposed to government debt & who say local debt is too high
  • TXDOT has $13.4 Billion in non-toll related debt

Houston Chronicle | Eliminating tolls would…

UPDATE. Texas High Speed Rail Up for Big Award. WINNER.

Texas High Speed Rail won the Urban Land Institute’s Next Big Idea Award.

How did High Speed Rail win the award?

  • Supportive North Texas businesses
  • Suppotive North Texas local governments

Dallas Morning News | Biz Beat | Old Parkland campus one of North Texas’ Urban Land Institute award winners

Dallas Business Journal | How High Speed Rail Won UILs Next Big Idea Award

Texas High Speed Rail is 1 of 3 nominees for the Next Big Idea Award awarded by the Urban Land Institute of North…

Trend: Self Driving Cars & Legal Liability. 2 Paths.

Will accidents involving self driving cars make the car company liable for the accident? 2 Liability Paths:

  • A google car and a bus collided. In response, Google said it had some liability.
  • Some attorneys say they will be treated like accidents are treated now, because car systems can fail and it leaves the person in the car liable for damage caused.

National Law Review | Foley & Lardner LLP | Liability & Autonomous Vehicles

 

 

5 Economic Benefits of Ports from Senator Hinojosa

Senator Chuy Hinojosa highlights these economic benefits of ports:

  • Ports are economic drivers:
    • Generating $270 billion a year in economic activity
    • Generating $6 billion in state and local taxes per year
    • 1.4 million jobs
    • generate $82.8 billion in personal income
  • Ports of entry, and bridges, facilitate a $200 billion annual trade with Mexico
  • 3 of our ports are in the nation’s Top 10 by tonnage
    • #2 Houston
    • #4 Beaumont
    • #7 Corpus Christi (7th)
  • The #1 fresh produce port of entry…