InfoHive – Transportation

A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health stands for improving roadway safety by narrowing lanes. Ordinary lanes hover around 12 feet wide, but lanes of 10-11 feet have been shown to reduce speeds and accident rates.

Route Fifty | The key to safer roads? Narrow the lanes.

San Francisco voters will vote on whether to adopt the The Community Transit Act, which would enact a maximum of 4.5% gross receipts tax on ride-hail companies. It is estimated that it would generate $30 million annually to fund Muni, San Francisco’s mass transit system.

StreetsBlogSF | Possible Uber/Lyft Tax Could Help Fund Muni

Since the 1980s Canada installed wildlife bridges in Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay national parks. These bridges have reduced wildlife collisions by more than 80%, and by over 96% for elk and deer alone.

Parks.Canada.ca | Making roads safer for wildlife at Parks Canada

In August Missouri voters will vote in their primary for Governor. A candidate in the Republican primary is the current Lt. Governor who supported an increase in the gas tax.

Add Pennsylvania to the list of states that are imposing fees on electric vehicles. SB 656 (2024 | PA) sets a fee at $200 for 2025 and $250 for 2026.

A new report concerning high speed rail in the U.S. says the solution is national vision for a high speed rail network. The current piecemeal approach, “risks creating a “inchoate and fragmented” system of networks that promote parochial concerns over national needs.” The report is authored by Eric Goldwyn, the program director of transportation and land use and an assistant professor at the New York University Marron Institute, who says that “Standards matter. For high-speed rail, one expert told us that codifying design standards will move the HSR market “from confusion to alignment.” CA HSR, Brightline West, and Texas Central are currently working from different standards when it comes to rails and rolling stock.”

Route Fifty | High-speed rail needs national direction to get rolling, report says

Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts and Minnesota have deployed data bikes to relay terrain and bike lane and bike path safety and quality issues. Local officials say it has been a quicker way to identify pavement, and thus safety, issues. In Idaho they determined that 42% of the trails were in good condition, 5% were excellent, 33% o were in fair condition, 12% were in poor condition, and 9% were in very poor shape.

Route Fifty | Rough ride? Data bikes chart the condition of bike paths in more cities

The Department of Energy tells that the US has 188,600 public and private charging ports, and 67,900 charging stations.

With gas tax revenue not keeping up, states are supplementing gas tax revenue with taxes on delivery services. Colorado passed a 29 cent tax for each delivery in 2022. Colorado exempts companies with revenues less than $500,000. Other states are moving forward with their own version, including NY, MN, and WA.

Route Fifty | Gas taxes can’t pay for roads much longer, but Amazon deliveries might

As of July 1st, Florida cities can no longer require EV chargers in development plans. HB 1084 (2024 | FL) puts an end to local ordinances that create EV charger requirements in building plans.