Category Archives: legislative trend

Funding State Transportation Projects via Ride Share Tax. Deep in the Old South.

The State: Virginia

The ride share tax: extending state and regional sales taxes to ride services

The ride share tax revenues will be dedicated to: 

  • “$21 million a year for mass transit systems across Virginia, replacing the use of state-backed bonds to pay for new buses”
  • $154 million a year for the ailing Washington-area Metro system
  • ” one-time bond payment of $50 million as Virginia’s share of a $150 million pledge with Maryland and Washington to collect an equal share of federal funding…

EV Requirements for Ride Share. The Bill Mandating EVs.

California Legislature is considering SB1014 (2018) that requires:

  • all ride share companies to have 100% EV fleets
  • By 2028
  • $300 Million in funds to help ride shre drivers move to EVs

Which agencies are involved?

  • The California Public Utilities Commission and the California Air Resources Board to set electrification targets

Los Angeles Times | California lawmaker wants all Uber, Lyft cars to be electric by 2028

High Speed Rail in the Land of Poppies Triggers Audit. 3 Factors Triggered the Audit.

California High Speed Rail, Phase 1, will  face an audit after these 3 things happened:

  • Projected costs for phase 1 of California’s high speed rail have risen by $3 Billion
  • A bipartisan group of legislators requested a formal audit
  • Concerns that the project will need state subsidies

Due to the projected cost increase, the audit will make the following recommendations:

  • how to accelerate the project’s timeline
  • reduce costs and identify other sources of revenue
  • best practices for approving…

1 Federal Rail Administration High Speed Rail Public Meeting. 12 Objections.

The Federal Rail Administration public meeting in Madison, County TX resulted in the following lists of objections:

  • The route uproots 2 cemetaries
  • The construction phase will require a 2 mile per side buffer zone 
  • unfounded economics
  • route opposition
  • opposition to land acquisition by s privste company using eminent domain
  • the large cost to be borne by taxpayers- eventually
  • the project does not serve the public
  • electromagnetic emissions
  • noise pollution
  • reduced land values
  • environmental…

Meet the Non-Profit Roadblock to High Speed Rail in California

The Non-profit:  Fresno Rescue Mission which feeds and houses the homeless

How the non-profit is holding up high speed rail: The non-profit is standing firm in its compensation request to receive adequate relocation costs

Are there other complicating factors? Yes, the City of Fresno leases space to the Fresno Rescue Mission

ABC 30 | Local nonprofit agency seen as obstacle holding up progress of High Speed Rail

Lege TREND. 3 Points Bill Text + 3 Points Messaging. Direct Sales Bill in Goldenrod State.

Nebraska Legislature is considering LB 830 to begin direct motor vehicle sales.

LB 830 will:

  • in the list of what a motor vehicle seller cannot do in Nebraksa, LB 830 adds:
    • to advertising requirements the bill adds, “who is not the manufacturer” or not enfranchised or authorized by the manufacturer”
  • adds to the list of what entities may transfer ownership of a motor vehicle ” the manufacturer of the motor vehicle, motorcycle, or trailer”
  • creates an exception to the prohibition of…

6 Republican Reasons for Supporting Direct Sales in Wisconsin.

  • Direct sales is the freemarket place
  • Direct Sales is rebranded as- Electric Vehicle Freedom
  • Puts American and Wisconsin consumers first
  • Creates high-paying jobs
  • Promotes American-made products
  • Direct Sales embodies the ‘America First’ principle 

 

Business TREND. Anatomy of a 4500 EV charging station rollout by a utility.

The utility: PG&E

Total number of charging stations planned for the network of charging stations? 7500

Where does PG&E looking to place the EV chargers?

  • Condominiums
  • apartment buildings and
  • workplace

What’s the Q1 phase for the EV charging roll out plan? PG&E will place EV charging stations in partnerships with business customers

Cost of the program? $130 million

Length of the roll out to achieve 7500 EV charging stations: 3 years and end in 2020

Lege TREND. Increasing registration fees for EVs. 3 Fee Changes in Home of the Sego Lily.

A  114-page bill proposal from Utah’s Legislative Transportation and Funding Task Force suggests this fee schedule for EVs:

  • $200 annual registration fee for EVs, up from the current $44
  • $75 annual registration fee for hybrid vehicles, up from the current $44
  • The $200 fee is set to mirror the annual amount of gas tax the average Utah driver pays

The Salt Lake Tribune | Legislators propose radical changes for transportation, transit — including a tax hike 

State Appoints Tesla Employee to Motor Vehicle Dealer Board. 3 Results.

Virginia Governor McAuliffe appointed a Tesla Motors Inc. employee to a board that oversees automobile dealers, and here’s what happened:

  • The Governor became former governor before Senate confirmation
  • The Virginia Automobile Dealers Association vocally opposed the appointment
  • The Senate Committee rejects the appointment.

Background of direct sales in Virginia: The commissioner of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles permitted Tesla to open a company-owned store. The Auto Dealer…