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California is working on a 3 tiered approach to transportation funding:
Tier One: The State The state portion of transportation funding will be based in a $52 vehicle user fee.
Tier Two: Cities Cities are turning to financing models to improve transportation funding.
Tier Three: Regional Regional local governments are putting a 1/2 cent “quality of life tax” for transportation projects. it will require a 2/3 vote from local residents.
Uber & Lyft are extremely convenient for passengers. Their ease stems from their apps which quickly bring transportation to you. As a result, Uber/Lyft drivers are glued to their apps awaiting new fares. This focus on the next fare is leading to distracted driving, new laws and law suits.
In December 2014, a lawsuit was filed against a Lyft driver when the driver’s Lyft app was open when an accident occurred. In the same month, an Uber driver allegedly hit and killed a 6 year old in a San Francisco crosswalk. These incidents raise the following policy and legal issues that are being addressed across the country:
Its deja vu all over again. A foreign company finances a new transportation proposal. The foreign company has eminent domain authority. Opposition forms. Opposition gets stronger. The ultimate result: All eminent domain authority is repealed for the project.
10 years ago, it was Spanish Company, Cintra, and Trans Texas Corridor. Today it’s Japanese financed Texas Central Railway, which is proposing high-speed rail to connect Texas major metropolitan areas.
Previous opposition to the rail had been rural land owners, but newly organized opposition group, NoTexasCentral.Com, is suburban and urban based.
Tax experts say 12 states may likely raise the gas tax this year. It’s a bipartisan group, including:
Special Commissions have been studying transportation funding in these states:
To avoid raising taxes, Republicans in Connecticut unveiled a plan that is:
Republican Iowa Governor Branstad supports the 10 cent gas tax hike legislative leaders are pushing.
Alternative suggestions to the gas tax hike include legalizing marijuana and dedicating the tax revenues to transportation projects. The Gazette
In December, San Antonio City Council passed new ride share ordinances that effectively shutter Uber and Lyft on March 1st. The ordinances are called the most restrictive regulation in the country. Why? Here’s what the ordinance does:
Another contingent of new Council Members, Alan Warrick and Roberto Treviño, wants to keep Uber & Lyft by:
Texas Association of Realtors & San Antonio Realtor Board President say that additional transportation funding in SB 5 & SJR 5 will create additional economic benefits such as:
California has a transportation funding shortage. Like Texas, the gas excise tax has not kept up with roadway needs as cars became more fuel efficient.
The Speaker of the California House proposes an approximate $1 per week fee on drivers. The fee is expected to bring in about $1.8Billion per year dedicated to transportation.
A variety of options exist as to how the fee will be assessed, including:
Put 800 people together, many of whom are conservative, and momentum builds to oppose a private entity from using eminent domain to build a new transportation network.
What don’t people like about private companies using eminent domain?
“I am not a happy camper,” said state Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, adding he is frustrated by the lack of transparency on the project. “They are moving forward and we need your help.
“I don’t believe private enterprise should have eminent domain power. In regard to the 10th Amendment, I talked a lot about this during my campaign; we are living it here today. Federal overreach, they are bypassing us at the state, the county, and that is not OK.”
Former Montgomery County Judge: ” one of the biggest threats to the county I have seen in years” It’s extreme, folks.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley: Determined to stop the project
Rep. Mark Keough vows to stop the project
County Commissioners passed a resolution opposing the project.
The 10th amendment is increasingly popular symbol of federal intrusion. It’s like a rally cry for conservatives. Montgomery County Courier