Category Archives: local government

Refreshing our Recollection | READ THE BILL | Flip an EV rebate bill to an AV tax bill

 

How an EV rebate bill became an autonomous vehicle tax bill with this language:

California Legislature is considering AB1184 (2018 | CA). 

AB 1184 is touted as the Transportation Assistance Funding Act and intended to increase rebates for EVs and hybrids but was amended to:

  • include an autonomous vehicles riding tax for San Francisco City & County
  • 1 1/2% of net rider fares for riders who agree to share their ride sahre
  • 1 3/4 % for riders who do not agree to sharing
  • the tax revenue is…

Business TREND. Texas Central Rail Top 100 Infrastructure Project. New Report. What you need to know:

Report is by: CG/LA, a national infrastructure advocacy group

The report:  Strategic 100 North American Infrastructure Report

What analytical factors are considered?

  • Contribution to global, regional, and national competitiveness;
  • Contribution to local and regional economic productivity;
  • Job creation potential over the lifetime of the project;
  • Business opportunity in the next 3-18 months, and over the lifetime of the project;
  • Carbon efficiency / Sustainability;
  • Country’s track record for…

Business TREND. Ride share fee increase fund fund EV purchase.

How will Uber raise rates? By imposing a clean air fee

How much does Uber intend to raise? $260 million

How will the $260 million be used? to help all of its drivers in the city trade their gasoline-or diesel-powered vehicle in for an EV

Where is this happening? London, England

Future Car | Uber to Raise Prices in London to Help Drivers Switch to EVs

TREND. Congestion Pricing. More Government Affairs Spending.

Congestion pricing initiatives in local governments saw Uber announce $10 Million in spending.

  • $1 Million is dedicated to fighting NYC’s congestion pricing

Is this a reaction to anything? Yes studies that say ride share increase congestion in cities

Daily Mail | Uber plans to spend $10 million lobbying for new ‘congestion pricing’ taxes on drivers in cities across US

EV Fleets. What does research say about them helping with EV numbers?

According to new data analytic rubic by National Association of State Energy Officials and Cadmus, government fleet incentives are the least helpfulw ith EV policies because:

  • no evidence demonstrates that it improves EV adoption
  • fleets are usually too small to make an impact by visibility

 

Utility Dive | New tool helps states identify EV policies that work, and those that don’t

 

Lege TREND. Local Voters Approval for Ride Share Taxes? 4 Opposition Arguments.

Voters in San Francisco in November 2019 can vote wehter to approve a 3,25% tax onn ride share. Thanks to AB 1184 ( 2018 | CA) .

The Heartland Institute offers reasons to oppose a ride sahre tax:

  • San Francisco cost of living is already high enough
  • Termites. “Taxes such as this one are like termites: They eat at the foundation of the community,”
  • Taxes drivers. Drivers may get stuck paying the tax
  • self-sabotaging regulation

Heartland Institute | SAN FRANCISCO VOTERS TO CONSIDER TAXING UBER

Local TREND. Scooter Pilot Program. 7 points from San Antonio.

San Antonio, Texas pilot program for scooters will require scooter companies to:

  • be permitted
  • pay fees 
    • annual permit fee of $500 as well as $10 per scooter
  • no scooter cap on scooter numbers nor on companies
  • require data sharing of where scooters ar epicked up, dropped off and used to help city planners
  •  required to have a San Antonio-based fleet manager
  • 2 hour maximum for companies to address reported parking issues
  • 1 hour maximum for companies to address scooters  in restricted…

Local TREND. Ride Share Wants Tolling?

In Seattle, Uber is supporting tolling for:

  • congestion pricing 

Are they doing this elsewhere? Yes, $10 M committed nationally to support sustainable mobility

Why does ride share support congestion pricing tolls?

  • the company supports “sustainable mobility” issues
  • the company supports measures to reduce congestion

The Hill | Uber to lobby for road tolling in Seattle