activism – InfoHive – Transportation

New Kid on the Block. Opposition to Texas High Speed Rail

The new kid on the block: ‘ReRoute the Route’

ReRoute the Route message:safer, smarter rail options in Texas

Who is in the coalition? land owners, elected officials and business leaders

What do they say the high speed rail route should look like?

The energy coalition: Power The Future, a national nonprofit organization that advocates for American energy jobs

High Speed Rail is a “myth” because:

it is included in the Green New Deal’s
our country is spread out, it is not an alternative to air
Rail loses money in the US
- NYC subway annual deficit $244 million
- DC annual deficit $290 million
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom suspended high speed rail in California
- Amtrack annual loss $168 million
it will take away energy jobs

“rail is usually the most efficient way to move goods and people over distance”
Private investors and the market should determine if Texas High Speed Rail is a success
- “Legislators, that’s not your role,”.. to detemrine if the business model makes sense

California voters approved a legislative increase in fuel taxes and vehicle fees by rejecting a rollback of those revenue sources in Propsoition 6.

55% of voters approved the increased taxes and fees.

The 3 reasons attributed to the win? (see the reasons Missouri failed, ying and yang):

A clear detailed plan won.

Missouri voters defeated a gas tax increase 54:46. The gas tax under this proposal would have increased gradually for a total 10 cent increase.

The gas tax increase had bipartisan ledership support in Missouri.

Options on the table for legislators to increase transportation funding in Missouri:

increasing various license and registration fees for Department of Transportation
a gas tax increase of 2 cents that would not require voter approval
dedicating online sales tax revenue to…