New TREND. Laws ad Regulations Concerning Ride Share Driver Car Recalls.

Why are we worried about ride share driver car recalls? Consumer Reports says 1 of 6 Uber and Lyft drivers in New York City & Seattle areas are driving vehicles with outstanding recalls

Does this hold true for taxis too?  yes, 1 in 4 taxis

is there a non-legislative or regualtory solutions? Yes, Uber  deactivates drivers with outstanding recall that’s serious enough to prompt a “do not drive” warning

AP via SF Gate | Report: Many Uber, Lyft drivers fail to respond to recalls

Legal TREND. Roads. The loophole in Texas Eminent Domain Laws

The Texas Supreme Court ruled that local transportation projects are exempt from the 2005 Kelo fix to Texas eminent domain laws.

What part of the law did the Court find the exception in?

“[t]his section does not affect the authority of an entity authorized by law to take private property through the use of eminent domain for: (1) transportation projects, including, but not limited to, railroads, airports, or public roads or highways…” 

So… what are legal types saying? potentially all roads are excepted from the Kelo related limitations on eminent domain.

KMS RETAIL ROWLETT, LP v. CITY OF ROWLETT

Owners Counsel | Texas: Transportation Projects Exempt From Post-KeloLimitations On Eminent Domain Power

Regulatory TREND. Employment Status of TNC Drivers. Ride Share Drivers.

Remember how we talked about California regulators first entering the discussion of whether drivers are contract workers or employees? The issue is growing like a chia pet’s hair

This week the National Labor Relations Board issued a memo that the drivers are indpendent contractors.

This follows the April 29th letter from the Department of Labor. 

Competitive Enterprise Institute | Regulators Find Uber Drivers to Be Independent Contractors

3 States Where High Speed Rail Progresses. What you need to know:

California

  • cost: Los Angeles to San Francisco: $77 Billion
  • first service: 2028
  • first open line: Merced to Bakersfield

Florida

  • How did Florida project prove itself? In 2018, the private owners ran frequent service on a short route
  • Project name: Virgin Trains
  • Cost: $3.1 billion for the Miami-to-Orlando segment
  • Expected service for Miami to Orlando: 2022

Texas

  • Cost: $15 Billion
  • First service Dallas to Houston: 2024

Governing | Despite Missteps, High-Speed Rail Lines in 3 States Point to Progress

4 Lessons from a State Backed High Speed Rail Project

4 lessons for future high speed rail projects from California’s state high speed rail project:

  • Financing First. Work it out. Get it in Line. Finalize it. Then Start
  • Politics. Win or Neutralize the political game.
    • Let the technical experts be in charge of the project narrative
  • Clearly Establish why the High Speed Rail is NECESSARY

Construction Dive | What future high-speed rail developers can learn from the California bullet train

3 Ways the State of Ohio Funds Transportation Innovation. Public Private Partnerships.

How are the funds distributed? Partnership between The Ohio State University and Honda R&D Americas

How does it lure in innovation? 

  • Ohio State’s Office of Research hosts pitch day for reasearchers and start ups
  • Seed Funding. $25,000 to each project

Ohio State News | Ohio State gives seed funding to spur transportation innovations