Peak Toll Pricing: Does it Work?

Peak toll pricing helps pay for roads, but does not help reduce congestion according to the nternational Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association.  Two case studies:

  • Los Angeles County’s Metro uses peak toll pricing, which can cost $15 for 11 miles. Their peak toll priced lanes often become so congested, that the lanes are closed for periods of time. 
  • Atlanta uses peak toll pricing and is considering approaching the 270 drivers that use the peak pay toll lanes 5 days a week to switch their work schedules. Georgia is also implementing toll credits for transit users and for carpoolers. 

Governing

 

Funding Trend: Make Cities Pay the State Hundreds of Millions Annually

The Chair of a New York legislative committee is proposing the creation of a transportation finance authority that would fund transportation with:

  • “A 10-cent increase in the state gas tax would yield $500 million annually.
  • A half-percent income tax increase on New Yorkers earning between $500,000 and $2 million each year would raise their rate from 6.85 percent to 7.35 percent, bringing in $750 million annually.
  • A mandatory contribution from New York City, starting at $60 million in the first year and adding an additional $60 million each year until the city’s contribution is capped at $300 million annually.”

Streets Blog NYC

Dedicated Transportation Funding: The California 3 Step Approach from Republicans

  • In 2002, California passed a constitutional amendment that dedicates the sales tax on fuel for motor vehicles  for maintaining and expanding our roads, highways and bridges.
  • In 2010, California passed a constitutional amendment that prohibits transportation taxes from being borrowed for non-transportation purposes.
  • In 2015, California Legislature is moving its way through Senate Constitutional Amendment 7 (SCA 7) that closes a loophole allowing transportation taxes to be sent to general revenue. SCA 7 dedicates transportation taxes and fees solely to building and repairing roads, highways, and bridges.

Orange County Breeze via the Republican Senate Caucus

California Condemns More Land for High Speed Rail. TX High Speed Rail Replies- Texas is NOT California.

While Texas Central Railway openly talks to landowners, California is building a state financed high speed rail. 

On Friday, California’s Public Works Board voted to condemn 38 more pieces of property. in total, the state has condemned 192 land parcels to build high speed rail. In total, they need 1,300 parcels of property.

Fresno Bee

The very next day Texas Central Railway held a public meeting in Montgomery County. During that discussion, Robert Eckles, President of the Texas Central Railway, made clear that ” “We aren’t a California style project.” YourNewsHouston 

4 Points from Texas Central Rail Public April Meetings

Texas Central Rail is keeping a up a public meeting schedule. On Saturday April 11, 2015, they held a meeting in Montgomery County. the Highlights:

  • The new route follows a utility easement and will not traverse Montgomery Co.
  • If the project isn’t built and land is taken by eminent domain, the land will be returned to the land owner
  • Roads will not be split
    • “In no place are we going to cut off a county road, an FM road or cut off access to some body’s farm.” – Robert Eckels
  • Most of the investors are from Texas. There is no foregin ownership, only foreign purchase of the train itself.

The Courier Montgomery County TX

 

3 Reasons to Oppose High Speed Rail

  1. Eminent Domain
  2. Private funding claim is a rouse.
  3. Texas needs to build roads, not rails.

Eminent Domain

Building the high speed rail will grant a private entity, the Texas Central Railway, the power of eminent domain. Private entities with eminent domain are out of vogue in Texas.

Public Funding

Opposition claims that if ridership goals are not met, public funds will be applied to the project.

Roads First

HB 1889 by Metcalf seeks to cease rail building and promote road building. From the author:

“We need more roads for citizens to travel to ease our existing roadways,” Metcalf said. “We do not need a high-speed railway in Texas that will only benefit a few, while at the same time disturbing thousands of citizens within its path.”

The Atlantic CityLab  Ft Worth Star Telegram

 

 

 

Big Week for Ride Share with Help from Texas Association of Business. Cab Companies Disagree on 4 Point Disagreement.

Ride Share moved from local issue affecting local ordinances in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston to a statewide solution.

HB 2440 by Repsentative Paddie was heard in House Transportation. Statewide solutions for ride share on the horizon.  Cab companies testified in opposition:

  • Ride share is getting a business advantage; treat all companies the same
  • Criminal background checks should be the same for all drivers
  • 24/7 liability coverage or all companies should have the availability of liability insurance only when in service
  • Random Drug testing for all drivers.

Texas Association Business President Bill Hammond wrote in TribTalk about a need for a statewide solution. His points:

  • Texas supports innovation and technology in Texas
  • Mothers Against Drunk Driving talk about the benefit of ride share to prevent drunk driving 
  • Protect Consumers with clear statewide regulation. 

On a less happy note, an uber driver in Houston made headlines, when it was discovered that the driver was a felon, and accused of sexually assaulting a passenger. Houston Chronicle 

 

How long does it take to build a new rail between TX & Mexico? 100 + years

A new rail bridge is opening near Brownsville, which has been trying for 15 years to move the current Matamoros rail track out of downtown Brownsville. The move will improve safety by eliminating 14 car crossings. 

A security checkpoint in Mexico will screen train traffic in both directions until the US security station is moved from its current location.

Mexico paid $80M of the cost and local governemtns in the U.S. $40M.

Governing

 

High Speed Rail. High Speed Misinformation Campaign Alleged.

Texas Central High-Speed Railway accnounced a dozen public meetings from April 9th to the 24th to clear the air.

Texas Central High-Speed Railway touts the following benefits:

  • 1000s of jobs for Texans
  • no state funding required
  • to show that they intend no at grade crossings

Local governments are passing resolutions in opposition. State Representative Will Metcalf stated his opposition by saying, “

“We need more roads for citizens to travel to ease our existing roadways. We do not need a High Speed Railway in Texas that will only benefit a few, while at the same time disturbing thousands of citizens.”  Houston Chronicle

 

Legal Trend: Archeologists Get Involved in Rail Opposition

A nonprofit group of archeologists in Florida are vocalizing opposition to a high speed rail plan because the high speed rail will block their ability to recover artifacts. Other opposition includes:

  • block access to artifacts in known exploration areas
  • constant train noise pollution
  • damage to wildlife
  • slow down emergency response times

Their lawsuit in federal court asks the court to void the bonds backing the high speed rail.  Courthouse News Service