Category Archives: local government

9 Ways TX Using VW Environmental Mitigation Funds

Public Comment on the draft Mitigation Plan through October 8th at TCEQ.

Eligible mitigation actions:

 

  • Statewide Light-Duty ZEV Supply Equipment Funding (15% of funding)
  • In prioritity areas: (81% of funding)
    • Class4-7LocalFreightTrucks
    • Class 8 Local Freight Trucks and Port Drayage Trucks
    • Class 7 – 8 Refuse Vehicle
    • School Buses
    • Transit and Shuttle Buses
    • Electric Forklifts and Port Cargo Handling Equipment
    • Electric Airport Ground Support Equipment
    • Ocean-Going Vessel Shore…

Lege TREND. Legislators Opposing Rural DPS Office Closures. 5 Reasons Why.

Reasons the rural Texas legislators oppose the Texas Susnet Commission’s recommednation to close 87 rural DPS offices:

  •  places an unfair burden on rural communities
  • many counties have only 1 office, and that office would no longer exist
  • long-standing tendency to shift resources away from rural areas
  • No demonstrated success is shifting funding away from rural areas
  • “The approach the Sunset staff has taken is penny wise and pound foolish. Reducing the services, security, and emergency…

LOCAL TREND | 5 Points of NYC's Ride Share Cap

  • Caps the number of vehicles by prohibiting new ride share licenses
  • The cap is for 1 year
  • Also required is minimum wage, at a minimum for drivers
  • During the year, the Taxi and Limousine Commission will study the impact of ride share
  • Does not apply to disabled or disadvantaged areas

CNBC | New York City just voted to cap Uber and Lyft vehicles, and that could make rides more expensive

NYTimes | Uber Hit With Cap as New York City Takes Lead in Crackdown

Local TREND. Wheel Taxes Locally. What. Where. How. Supporters. Opponents.

What: A tax imposed on car registration by a local government & can be imposed by multiple local governments like county and city

Where:  Madison Wisconsin

How: Dane County implemented a $28 wheel tax + Madison, WI is considering a $17 wheel tax for an annual vehicle registration of $120

Supporters Say: It prevents cuts to public transit budget

Opponents Say: Raise the state gas tax.  More effective way to secure funding for the improvements the transit system and roads

WMTV | Madison…

Local Trend. Business Trend. 4 Examples of 1st/Last Mile to Public Transportation.

Entering into partnerships with Waymo, Uber and Lyft, or creating their own programs, cities address  last mile transportation options for pulic transit riders such as:

  • Waymo driverless vans taking riders to transit stops
    • A pilot program in Phoenix will start with local government employees and expand to seniors and the disabled
  • Cities are partnering with ride share companies for first/last mile connections to boost public transit use
  • Cities are creating their own first/last mile…

LOCAL TREND. Bike Sharing Ordinance in the Northwest. 5 Key Elements.

Seattle City Council adopted a new bicylce sharing ordinance that:

  • creates a 20,000 cap on sharing bicylces
  • sets a nonbinding deadline for the city to build a network of protected downtown bike lanes 
  • 4 companies, only 1 company, Lime has agreed to continue operating
    • $250,000 licensing fee
    • 5,000 bikes each
  • Audits 2 times a year  to ensure proper bike parking
  • The licensing fee is to fund up to 200 new bike-parking corrals

Seattle Times | City Council approves new bike-share rules,…

Campaign TREND. Propose Ride Share Fees to Fund Transportation. Who.What.Where.How.

Who: State Senate candidate Ryan O’Donnell

Where: New Hampshire (inspired by a 67 cent fee on ride share in Chicago)

What: A 30-50 cent fee on all ride share rides

How: The ride share fee would fund regional transit authorities for public transportation

Daily Hampshire Gazette | O’Donnell: Help public transportation with fee on ride-hailing companies

TAX TREND. Tax Bikes and Public Transit for Roads. Where. What. How. The Legislation to Copy.

WHERE:  Republican Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee

WHAT: Revenue source to  raise revenue for highway construction

HOW: By imposing taxes/fees on:

  • fuel taxes paid by transit agencies
  • 10% tax on adult bicycle tires
  • 10% tax on electric batteries for cars and bikes

THE LEGISLATION DRAFT

Transportation & Infrastructure Committee | Shuster Releases Plan to Transform America’s Infrastructure

StreetsBlogUSA | House GOP Transportation Bill Would Raise Taxes on Transit and Bikes