Category Archives: funding

Republican State Chooses Road Bonds. Gives Governor More Power.

HOW: South Carolina legislature chose bond funding for transportation by:

  • Allocating $216 million in recurring funding for $2.3 billion in bonds over 10 years
  • Freeing up state funds to repair roads, interstates, and bridges

WHY did South Carolina opt for bonding?

  • 399 deficient bridges
  • The Governor is granted more power to appoint trasnportation commissioners, removing power from the joint legislative panel that selects commissioners
  • The legislature had the backing of the state’s…

Revenue Source. Gas Tax Alternative. 4 Pieces Intel from the West's Pay as You Drive Plans.

Which state is at the forefront of pay by the mile policies? Oregon has pursued this option for  the last 10 years & charges 1.5 cents per mile driven with a gas tax credit

Which state begins a pay as you drive pilot program in July 2016? California
 

Why is California looking for gas tax alternatives for transportation funding?

  • By 2035, California will lose 1/2 of its gas tax revenue to fuel efficieincy
  • Federal Funding
    •  The FAST Act offers $95 million in funding availability to…

ROUND 2. The Texas Congressman vs. High Speed Rail. 3 Pieces of Intel.

Which Texas Congressman wrote to the Surface Transportation Board about opposing high speed rail in Texas? Congressman Brady

What is Congressman Brady’s opposition to high speed rail in Texas? 

  • Congressman Brady opposes accelerated use of eminent domain or construction
  • Congressman Brady says the route is wrong
  • Congressman Brady opposes financial loans for high speed rail from the federal government

What is Congressman Brady’s opposition to the high speed rail route? 

  • The route…

5 Ways Politics Get in the Way of Better Roads. Better Bridges.

  • By 2015 the federal transportation funding gap to maintain transportation infrastructure will be  $1.4 trillion gap
  • U.S. Roads fell from #1 in the world to #11

What and who is to blame?

  • President Obama blames Republicans
  • Democratic Congressmen blame the stimulus package
    • too little transportation funds
    • too long wait to start projects
  • Fear of raising the gas tax according to Transportation Secretary
  • Republicans say a lack of faith in the federal government makes it difficult to…

TREND. High Speed Rail Delay in the West. Follow the Funding in 4 Intel Pieces.

How long will California’s high speed rail be delayed? An additional 4 years

The reason for the delay? Federal funding was contringent on a portion of the high speed rail being completed by 2017.That portion is not finished. The original deadline was set in 2009.

Does the delay impact federal funding? No, federal funding keeps flowing. The project was originally funded through the Recovery and Reinvestment funds. 

What other funding sources fund high speed rail in California?

  • $500…

Comptroller Highlights Road Funding. The Intel:

The May issue of Fiscal Notes from the Office of the Comptroller concerning greater transportation infrastructure by the numbers:

  • 38% of Texas  major roads are poor or fair condition 
  • 800 million daily vehicle miles by 2040
    • 455 million daily vehicle miles in 2014
  • 19% of Texas bridges are deemed “structurally deficient” or “functionally obsolete” in 2015
  • $2.5 billion of net revenue from the sales tax will be moved to the State Highway Fund beginning in Fiscal Year 2018 (Prop. 7)
  • …

Lege TREND. Data Based Transportation Funding. 3 Keys from Eastern State.

Which state moved to data based funding for transportatin projects? North Carolina

When did North Carolina make the move to data based funding? 2013

Why did North Carolina adopt data based funding for transportation? To give highest priority to congestion, safety and economic development

What happened since adopting data based funding? A repeal was “snuck” into the 2015 budget.

What is North Carolina doing to strenthen data based funding?

TREND. West Coast Solution to low road funding? Incremental sales tax.

What proposal is being bandied about to improve local transportation funding in California? incremental sales tax for counties to raise transportation revenue

What are the recommended benchmarks for a local transporation incremental sales tax in California?

  • Flexibility & Inclusiveness.  Need local sales tax authority that can adapt to changing transportation needs
  • Clear bonding authority. Leverage the sales tax revenue for bonds & other financial mechanisms

Sound familiar? Local…