TX Lege. Landgraf 3 points on Transportation.

 

  • “For every $1.00 Texas sends to the federal government’s Highway Trust Fund, we only get $0.95 back to help build our public highways”
    • Texas is the only donor state in the nation
  • Concurrent Resolution 147 by Landgraff talks about this
  • The inequitable forumla from the Feds and Texas rapid growth means the time to fix this is now

Odessa American | Landgraf: Fighting for Texas roads

Lege TREND. Loophole in the Safety for Ride Share Bills.

Refresher, a person was murdered who was looking for their ride share driver, and in response states are acting to pass legislation & Uber and Lyft have implemented reforms.

One of the state legislative moves: requiring lighted ride share signs in vehicles

The loophole: anyone can buy these lights which doesn’t improve safety

WF My News 2 | Loophole in NC Plan To Make Uber, Lyft Safer

TREND. Largest Deployment of EV Fast Charging Stations. What you need to know:

Who: EV Go

How many fast charging stations: 14 battery storage systems at 11 fast charging stations
 

2 Industry reasons EVGo offers for their charging deploymnt:

  • cahrging stations will offer load balancing
  • charging stations will mitigate distribution grid upgrade costs,

Utility Dive | EVgo adding 14 battery storage systems to spur EV fast charger deployment

Legislation TREND begets Business TREND. Rideshare Adopts Safety Measures

In light of the influx of recent safety bills after a student was killed when she mistook a car for a ride share driver’s car, ride share companies are adopting safety measures.

What safety measures are ride sahre companies adopting in response?

  •  Uber is launching the Campus Safety Initiative
    • This reminds riders to check the license plate, make and model of the car, as well as the driver’s name and picture, before ever entering into a vehicle
  •  Uber is building out dedicated pickup zones in Five Points district of Columbia
  • Lyft has implemented continuous background checks for drivers this week

TechCrunch | Uber, Lyft implement new safety measures

Anatomy of a State Hyperloop Project.

Hyperloops are all the rage.

Where’s this hyperloop? Missouri

What futuristic gizmo is a hyperloop? It uses “magnetic levitation to carry pods with people and goods through a low-pressure tube”

How fast would it move people and things?  from Kansas City to St. Louis in less than 30 minutes

Is the project private? Yes

Is there talk of Missouri using eminent domain? yes

Why the eminent domain? The porject needs to acquire land and the use of eminent domain was  authorized by the Missouri Public Service Commission

3 Arguments for EV Paying Mileage Tax. Energy Institute

The academics: The Energy Institute at HAAS School of Business, University of California Berkeley

Their arguments to support pay as your drive programs:

  • The gasoline tax is highly regressive, and EV drivers tend to be disproportionately high income
  • EV environmental damage is not ZERO
  • EV cars still impact roads and impact congestion and traffic

How many states are testing pay as you drive? 

Energy Institute at HAAS | Should Electric Vehicle Drivers Pay a Mileage Tax?

Lege TREND. 3 Opposition Arguments to giving Autodealers Control Over Customer Data

Oregon, like AZ, NY and MT, is considering legislation to secure auto customer data.

The Oregon Legislation: House Bill 3152 (2019 | OR)

Opponent arguments in Oregon are:

  • this bill would “require very secure and highly-regulated computer networks to become less secure”
  • computer system owners would not even be permitted to deny access to dealers’ designated people who lack technical training
  • the bill limit what people can do with this data

The Oregonian | Opinion: Bill would give auto dealers too much control over customers’ information

Lege TREND. Motor Vehicle Dealers Increased Data Security Requirements.

Where: Arizona

The legislation: House Bill 2418 (2019 | AZ)

What data secuerity measures are required of motor vehicle dealers?

  • auto dealers are designated as the gatekeeper of all the consumer information
  • prevent DMS system data from being sold

What’s the bill missing according to a cyber security expert? best practices or standards

Are other states doing this? Yes, NY, MT and OR

Was it supported by the state autodealer association? the association stands by the bill (whatever that means)

ABC 15 Arizona | Arizona legislature approves bill aiming to increase cybersecurity when buying a car

Lege TREND. EV Tax Credits in a Southern Red State.

Georgia legislation, HB 732 (2019 | GA) looks to:

  • reinstate a $2,500 state tax credit for the purchase or lease of new electric, zero emission, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
  • $10 million annual cap
  • $500 state tax credit for residential EV charging stations
  • $1,500 credit for commercial charging stations

Electrek | Georgia Republicans propose $2,500 state tax credit for electric vehicles

TX Attorney General Opinion. Can TXDOT still contract under North Tarrant Express CDA?

Why wouldn’t TXDOT enter into an agreement under the North Tarrant CDA? The authority ceased on August 31, 2017 with SB 1730.

Why does this matter? TXDOT says they can amend an existing agreement that pre-dates the cut off deadline

Which members are asking for this? Chair Bob Hall & Chair Lois Kolkhorst

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