In 2015, so far 6 states have raised the gas tax:
- Idaho
- Georgia
- Maryland
- Rhode Island
- Nebraska
- Vermont
One state lowered the gas tax:
- California lowered the gas tax by 6 cents.
Category Archives: funding
Trend: Increase Funding By Raising Fees
Delaware Governor signed increased transportation funding that will generate $24M/year by increasing fees that haven’t been raised since 1990. last year, Delaware raised toll fees to generate $10M/year.
US Chamber: Key to Economy is Transportation Funding by Raising 1 Tax
Interstate Commerce requires transportation. As a logical continuation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s transportation chief, speaking in Dallas said:
- The key is revenue- how to fund transportation.
- Privately, she said that the US Chamber supports raising the federal gas tax.
High Speed Rail: The National Landscape
Nationally 2 high speed rail projects have moved beyond “gee, wouldn’t it be nice if we could zip between cities on a train at high speeds” conjecture.
- California has a state funded high speed rail proposal that is in the process of construction
- Voters approved $10 Billion
- 520 miles of track
- has fought landowners and has been using eminent domain
- Texas high speed rail project is considered to be more than just conjecture & is privately funded.
- Seeks to raise $10-$12 billion
- 240…
How to improve Transportation without Increasing Funding? Friendly Ride Share Policies
A recent Deloitte University Press Report studying what millenials wnat in transportation plans says that a way to save billions & build a trasnportation system for the future is to support alternative approaches.
The answer, folks, to saving billions in transportation: car-, ride- and bike-sharing.
Deloitte University Press Governing American Transportation Association Study
Will every commuter & freight rail in the country be fined on January 1st?
Congress and the Federal Rail Administration are requiring that every commuter and freight train in the country install positive train control by 12/31/2015.
Positive Train Control is anticipated increase train safety. It can cost hundreds of millions to install. Congress allocated no funds to help railways, and included a fine for not installing the safety measure of $25,000 per day.
Rail has known since 2008 of the deadline for positive train control requirements.
3 Cheese Head Suggestions to Increase Transportation Funding
An editorial at the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel recommends 3 ways to increase trasnportation funding:
- cut back on some projects
- raise the gas tax and registration fees in the short-term
- develop a method of charging for vehicle miles traveled or toll roads (which would require federal approval) in the long term.
Posted infunding, legislative trend
Vic Suhm, the executive director of the Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition, believes in his heart of hearts that Texas “still needs to figure out a long term funding mechanism that is less dependent on gas tax.” “That’s clearly something that I think will not go away,” he says. “That’ll be here next session, too.” ““Not only are we dedicating more money to building roads, we’re also ending diversions and as a result, providing greater transparency,” said Governor Abbott. “This legislation will have a tremendous and positive impact on the lives of people across the State of Texas.” Viriginia is rethinking whether it saves money with public private partnerships. Spefically, when the P3 investments involve infrastructure like transportation. The state is considering design-build and bond financing to save state revenue on future transportation projects. The change of heart from the state that has been actively using P3s for 20 years, is controversy. The details: ” The most significant controversy involved a proposed 55-mile toll road linking the Norfolk…Talking Future Transportation Funding. 84R not enough.
Gov. Abbott Statement on Signing Transportation Funding
Transportation Controversies Lead to Move Away from Public-Private Partnerships