Category Archives: local government

Wolverines Move Ride Share Legislation to Governor. The Crucial Elements.

Michigan legislators pushed for equal footing for ride share and taxis, ending up with this:

  • Both taxis and ride share would be regualted by the state
    • Annual registration
    • per vehicle fee
  • Drivers register through the companies, and not the state
  • Companies would have to:
    • conduct background checks
    • inspect vehicles

The details everyone wants to know- the background checks. Here’s the key requirements:

  • Annual background checks
  • 3rd party background checks permissible
  • must use a…

1 Local Transportation Entity. 1 Ransomeware Attack Defeated. 3 Takeaways.

How did San Francisco’s Muni system stop a ransomeware attack that held its system hostage? In 3 steps:

  • Shut down electronics- opened fare gates & shut down ticket machines
  • Contacted Homeland Security
  • Relied on its technology team to restart the system from a backup

The success of Muni’s actions:

  • Friday night the electronic ticketing shut down, by Monday the system was up and running
  • No confidential information was obtained by the hackers
  • Muni never communicated with the hackers…

Editorial. Speed Limits. 3 Reasons Speed Limits Should be Under Local Control.

Ft. Worth Star Telegram editorial lays out 3 reasons speed limits should be controlled locally and not by Austin lawmakers:

  • If the state lowers the default residential speed limit, there will be no funding for additional patrols
  • The city would benefit from assessing street safety to determine appropriate speeds
  • The city can already lower the speed limit itself, so why is a Ft. Worth citycouncil member pushing this idea?

+1 City Council Supports Dallas Houston High Speed Rail

Add Plano City Council to the supporter list for Texas Central Rail Dallas to Houston high speed rail.

How did Plano City Council express support for high speed rail? By resolution, passing 7 to 1.

What reasons for supporting high speed rail were given by City Council?

  • boost regional economy
  • help alleviate traffic congestion

Dallas Morning News | Plano city council signals support for high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston

LOCAL TREND. Ride Share for Seniors. The Details you Need to Know Now to Adopt in Your City.

Where is this happening? Atlanta metro area has adopted  Seniors Go, a ride share program for persons over 55

How does the ride share program for seniors work?

  • Rides are booked Uber through Common Courtesy
  • Discounted fare of $2 for the first 15 miles and 85 cents per mile after that
  • No restrictions on locations
  • Limited to two round-trip rides a week.
  • Seniors must be members of the Senior Citizen Council of Cobb County
    • ​ The Senior Council has membership fees are $12 for a…

5 Points to Know. County Lawsuit v. Texas High Speed Rail.

Which county filed suit? Waller County Sub-Regional Planning Commission

The suit is against: Texas Department of Transportation

Where did it file suit? Travis District Court

What claims are made? The County opposes a state law that requires it to coordinate planning on the high-speed rail, but TXDOT refused to work with the County claiming that it was ordered not to by the  Federal Rail Authority

What does the county want? Proper participation/coordination under the law

Click2…

The Transportation Needs of Business and Texas Ports. 3 Pieces of Intel.

Where did the issue of transportation needs at Texas ports arise? The Harris County International Trade and Transportation Conference

Why is more transportation infrastucture needed? nflux of petrochemical-related cargo

What are trains saying? 

  • trains take big trucks off the roads
  • big trucks don’t pay their fair share for road damage

What does a petrochemical logistics manager say about the need for roads? A dedicated corridor for trucks carrying heavier loads would be an…

LOCAL TREND: +1 County Resolution Opposing Eminent Domain for High Speed Rail

Add Montgomery County to the list of counties that oppose eminent domain for proposed high speed rail from Houston to Dallas. 

The vote: unanimous

The common theme among commissioners: An opposition to a private company seizing private property.

The resolution:

RESOLUTION AND ORDER

 

WHEREAS, Montgomery County finds that any high-speed rail lines and facilities crossing county roads is not desirable; and

WHEREAS, Montgomery County values the protection of real property rights…