Category Archives: 2017 issue

5 Bipartisan Texas State Reps. Interim Study Request on Toll Roads

Texas State Representatives Minajarez, Pickett, Dale, Oliverson & Goldman

are requesting the following interim charges:

  • Study how toll road operators, or authorities calculate toll rates in Texas, and ensure there is transparency in the process.
  • Study the Minajarez amendment to S.B. 312 85(R) to see if it applies to all toll roads in the state, or to just the TxDOT operated toll roads and toll lanes.
  • Study the possibility of the consolidation of Texas Toll Pay by Mail into a single back…

8 Ways to Stop Red Light Cameras from TX Sen. Huffines letter to TXDOT

Huffines points to a KXAn investigation revealing 3 of thr 50 cities using red light cameras are doing so lawfully.
 
How is he defining lawfully? Compliant with Transportation Code Section 707.003 requiring a traffic engineering study of red light camera ingtersections before installation.
 
What 8 things does he want TXDOT to do?
  • he wants TXDOT to confirm whether they review the Trasnportation Code 707.003 study
  • review all the red light cameras to see if they comply with…

3 Reasons the Golden State High Speed Rail Has Cost Overrages

California’s proposed high speed rail line is exceeding its cost estimates by 27%. Here’s why:

  • higher  land acquisition costs
  • cost of moving utilities underground
  • cost of logistics with freight rail companies

How far behind is the project? 7 years

Los Angeles Times | California bullet train costs up $1.7 billion for Central Valley segment

Safety Regulation + Ride Share = No Ride Share. What drove away the sharing economy?

Quebec has a requirement that requires taxi drivers and ride share drivers to complete driver safety courses. 

In addition to 35 hours of driver safety training, ride share would also be required to:

  • annual car inspections
  • background checks done by police officials

Wall Street Journal | Uber Threatens to Leave Quebec Over Driver Rules

 

New Study: The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend. Ride Share Edition.

Does ride share usage reduce car ownership? That’s what this news report says, relying on studies from Texas A&M, University of Michigan, and the City of Austin.

Does this make new allies of taxis and auto manufacturers? Are taxis and parking lot owners gong to bond over the reduced use of parking lots?

Portland KGW.com | Uber and Lyft Could Kill Car Ownership in Big Cities

Legal Trend. Judge Requires Disclosure of lawmakers & lobbyist communication on direct sales.

Michigan’s direct sales ban is being tested in Michigan federal court as a violation of the Commerce Clause.

What does that mean in normal people terms? The direct sales ban isn’t just a question of is direct sales a Michigan law and constitution problem, but does direct sales bans run counter to the US Constitution. Also, the Supremes can get involved- as in Ruth Bader Ginsburg et. al, not Diana Ross et. al.

What documents is the court requiring be disclosed?

  • 2 lawmakers must turn over…

TREND. +1 Way Local Governments are Utilizing Ride Share for Services.

Boston instituted a pilot program for ride share to help with paratransit that subsidizes rides on Uber and Lyft.

What business traits do paratransit need:

  • well-trained drivers
  • smart dispatch
  • flexibility: multiple stops & a wide range of physical limitations

Philly.com | Should Philly follow Boston and remake paratransit with ride hailing?

TREND. Amend statewide ride share laws with more reporting. Safety First.

After passing statewide ride share laws states, like North Dakota, seek to amend their laws.

What do states want to change about their ride share laws?

  • More detailed information about ride share driver incidents
  • Greater detail on the severity of incidents
  • Ensure disclosure of the number of traffic violations
  • More details about the statewide number of drivers to compare the incidents to those in the overall driving public

WDAZ | Lawmakers may boost reporting requirements for Uber, Lyft next…

Local Trend. Statewide Ride Share law. Local Ballot to Accept Ride Share. At issue: Local Taxes.

The October ballot in Ketchikan Alaska will ask its citizens whether to permit ride share operators.

Alaska has a statewide rideshare law, but a skeptical mayor and city council want local input. 

The skepticism, you ask? Whether ride share companies will remit local sales taxes.

SF Chronicle | Alaska city leaders put ride-sharing ban on ballot