Category Archives: legislative trend

TREND: Interstate Tolls. From the Land of Cheese & Federal Prognosticators.

Interstate Tolls  are on the minds of people from Gov. Scott Walker to the crystal ball readers deciphering public private partnerships under President Trump.

What’s the state outlook on interstate tolls? 

  • A Wisconsin state study sais it could raise $14 to $41 billion in revenue. 
  • But, interstate tolls will require $350-$400 million infrastructure investment & federal approval

Iron Moutnain Daily News | Wisconsin transportation study considers interstate tollways

What do people…

TREND & Procurement Opportunity: Smart Roads.

What is a smart road? A road rired with fiber optic cable, cameras and conencted devices

What are the goals of smart roads? 

  • Alert drivers to accidents, weather, and adjust speed limits
  • Communicate with self driving cars
  • Help all cars move as quickly as possible & as safely as possible

Where are we seeing smart roads?  

  • Virginia I-66 smart road  is up and running
  • In 2016 Ohio pledged to spend $15 million for 35 miles of smart road on Rt. 33
  • Utah is testing it on Salt Lake…

Finger Print Compromise from Maryland. The Nuts & Bolts from Legislators & Regulators.

The Legislative standard: No finger print requirement for ride share, if ride share comapnies could shoe regulators that their background checks were just as effective.

The regulators respond with: Increased safety measures and reporting requirements for ride share companies, such as:

  • Annual background checks on all drivers

  • Auditing and accrediting by an arm of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners

  • Alerting regulators to any changes to their…

TREND: Ride Share Gets New Ally in Empire State + 1 Counter punch

The brewing industry joins law enforcement supporting a push to extend ride share statewide in New York.

Brewers support ride share because:

  • boost the local economy
  • promote safety
  • help minimize downtown parking concerns

The counter punch from an association representing the taxi industry:

“Calling an Uber shouldn’t be the same as calling a criminal,” said John Tomassi, president of the Upstate Transportation Association. 

WHAM ABC 13 Rochester | Brewing industry joins push for…

2 Reasons a Judge Questions Whether Taxis are Harmed in Ride Share Regulations.

The lawsuit: Federal lawsuit over whether California regulations on ride share unfairly disadvantage taxis

The issues raised by a Judge questioning whether ride share regulations harm taxi cabs:

  • “In economic regulation groups are favored all the time. It’s always about favoring one over the other. Animus is the purpose of harming a group, not favoring a group.”
  • favoritism toward Uber and Lyft does not equal the sort of hostility toward taxi drivers

Courthouse News Service…

Trendspotting. Ride Share for Seniors & Visually Impaired.

The business model:

  • Non-profit 
  • Ride share for people who are 60 and over & any adult with a visual impairment
  • Riders create a membership and fund a personal transportation account
  • Drivers earn credits that can be used later for rides

Lexington Herald Leader |  It’s like Uber for seniors — complete with ‘arm-through-arm’ walk to the door

 

State #3 Pay as You Drive Swap for Gas Tax

State #3 to move toward swapping the gas tax for pay as your drive: Colorado

How is Colorado implementing as pay as you? In December Colorado’s Road Usage Charge Pilot Program will begin with 100 volunteers.

What should I know about the pilot program for pay as your drive ?

  • 100 volunteers
  • no money will be paid for the miles
  • it will test the exchange of information of mileage reporting and revenue collection
  • 4 month duration

Governing | Should a Mileage Tax Replace the Gas Tax?…