roads – Page 18 – InfoHive

Texas & Self Driving Cars. 4 Results from the Laissez-faire Libertarian Approach.

Google cars are maneuvering Austin roadways while Texas’ regulation of self-driving cars is laissez-faire libertarian.

4 Reasons Why the libertarian approach has prevailed:

Texas laws & regulation have no obvious restrictions on self-driving vehicles
Google is frustrated with a year delay in California’s state regulation of self driving cars
DPS is reportedly working with other states on the issue
TXDOT says it is waiting for legislative guidance

Both the Beaumont Enterprise and the Midland Reporter-Telegram ran editorials supporting raising the gas tax.

2015 Prop 7 is not enough for transportation funding
The state still needs $5 billion per year for transportation funding
“The only realistic answer is increasing the gasoline tax, which hasn’t changed since 1991”

Eliminating all current toll roads would add $1.5 to $2 billion to Texas transportation funding needs per year.

Oregon is the only state to be testing, pay as you drive, taxing structure for its citizens.

How does it work? A green box is attached to a car’s steering column, and reports speed, braking, and distance to a 3rd party contractor.

The fee for pay as you drive in Oregon? 1.5 cents per mile.

Unlike the gas tax a Prius and F-150 would pay equal amounts.

It changes driving habits. One Prius driver reported breaking less.

A non-GPS device option will be available for statewide use, to…

The question before Attorney General Paxton: Can TXDOT enter into Design Build contracts in fiscal year 2016-2017 with funds appropriated for that year.
Why is this a question? Design Build Rider 47 to HB 1 and the Transportation Code Conflict.
- Rider 47 has a higher threshold, $250 million, than statute, which has a $150 million threshold
Opposition thinks Rider 47 is unconstitutional. Can’t go changing substantive law in the budget, but you can as long as no court or…

Transportation funding is a Return on Investment:
- it is an enhanced tax base
- promotes new development
- provides a safe, efficient and reliable mode of transporting raw materials, finished products and people
Delays in transportation cost people and businesses money
Fuel efficeint cars are good for the environment and our pocketbooks but bad for transportation funding, and we can fix that

Background

Oil producing counties are a state revenue source. Eagle Ford Shale counties alone contribute $323 million of severance tax receipts a year.
Unfair revenue exchange with oil counties. In the same year that DeWitt county contributed $57.5 Million in severence taxes, it received $112,000 from the comptroller for money generated from gasoline tax remittances and overweight axle fees
- Now the oil producing counties are left with dangerous roads. This was the catalyst for a…

Michigan legislature is poised to approve a transportation funding shift from user fees to general revenue funded transportation.

What does Michigan’s new transportation funding bill look like?

$1.2-billion road funding plan
$600 million in general fund dollars being dedicated to roads each year, starting in 2020-21
It would “vault Michigan from 17th to 5th in the nation in terms of how much general fund money it earmarks for transportation”

What’s the opposition? Democrats, the…

AAA released its polling information on transportation funding this week showing huge support for transportation funding:

70% think the federal government should invest more than it does now for roads, bridges and mass transit systems
91% think it important to conduct routine maintenance and repair of roads and bridges, such as fixing potholes, repaving roads, etc.:
70% rate it important to expand public and shared transportation, such as busses, commuter rail and support for…

Georgia raised its gas tax before gas prices fell. Which turned into a win-win: