InfoHive – Transportation

What’s happening? Everyone is talking about supply chain. Some experts say this is nothing new in that the transition to 24/7 supply chain has been ongoing

Why is this important? Some shipping companies are offering incentives for truckers to collect containers on nights and weekends & incentives for timely pickups. Some ports are opening pop up container storage to move things along

How will this be important? The trucking side of this coin says safe parking and reduced detention times are crucial

Transport Dive | Supply chain stakeholders offer incentives to keep trucks moving through West Coast ports

Transport Dive | The transition to 24/7 supply chains, and the pursuit of long-term solution

What is happening? New year, hello! 2022, and new laws, SB 911 (2021 | TX) around delivery services in Texas.

Why is this important? The state laws specifically pre-empt city ordinances and limit misleading uses of trademarks, fees that are not agreed to in writing are prohibited, provide mechanisms for customers to complain to the delivery service, 10 day cap to remove a restaurant after a request, and provides a means for restaurants to sue delivery services.

How will this be important? California has passed something similar. NYC & Washington State are into capping fees. NYC has also considered setting parameters around consumer data.

@eaterAustin

Austin Eater | New Bill Increases Third-Party Delivery App Transparency in Texas

What’s happening? Transportation policy experts say that 2021 transportation policies have added a distinct element of social equity.

Why is this important? Transportation policy now uses phrases like “universal basic mobility.” We’ve talked about cities eliminating fees for transportation in the heat of the pandemic and beyond. It isn’t limited to L.A., it is also Kansas City.

How will this be important? “The return on investment for compassion, for empathy, for social equity … far outweighs the return on investment in concrete and asphalt. What do you want to invest in?” Robbie Makinen, CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority in Kansas City, Mo. The experts sy this change in transportation policy mindset is just beginning.

Government Technology | 2021 Set Public Transit Towards Equitable, Accessible Future

What is happening? Colorado Transportation Commission reduced the amount of greenhouse gases & support the state’s push for more EVs

Why is this important? Opposition came from a group of business interest groups that says the regulations harm an ongoing investment in relieving traffic congestion

How will this be important? The Transportation Commissions work dovetailed with regulations from the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission for new rules that would require more frequent inspections of oil and gas well sites to reduce methane.

Denver Post via Governing | Colorado Approves New Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations

What’s happening? Florida’s Governor is proposing a cut to the state’s gas tax to help cut the impact of inflation.

Why is this important? The proposal calls for suspending the state gas tax for 6 months.

How will this be important? Policy minds say that it is easier to suspend the gas tax than to re-write other portions of state tax code. Call it an easy way to cut taxes.

Route Fifty | Florida’s governor is backing the idea of suspending his state’s gas tax for six months

What is happening? Michigan is returning motor vehicle payments that funded the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association and has a $5 B surplus.

Why is this important? Michigan is known for its high car insurance rates. To combat that reputation, the Governor is calling on the state to rebate $400 to every vehicle in the state from the surplus proceeds of the MI Catastrophic Claims Assoc.

How will this be important? Returning excess taxpayer revenue to the state’s taxpayers is trendy

NPR | Every Michigan driver will get $400 for each vehicle they own, the state says

What is happening? NJ’s Governor is calling for proposals for  “Trenton Mobility & Opportunity: Vehicles Equity System (MOVES),” an all electric transit system that would serve 90,000 in Trenton.

Why is this important? The plan is for electric autonomous minibuses to serve routes

How will this be important? Microtransit is on the rise with other programs in Europe, Brooklyn and Texas

Governing | Gov. Murphy Calls For Electric, Self-Driving Transit Proposals

What’s happening? Since the pandemic, sales of bikes has soared.

Why is this important? Bikes and bike rentals, are seen as safer with bigger wheels and a place to put a bag.

How will this be important? In San Antonio, TX bikes are legally permitted on all city streets and trail and can travel up to 15mph. The regulatory quagmire remains the elusive bike lane and protecting the safety of bikes.

San Antonio Express News via Governing | Will Scooters, E-Bikes Thrive in a Post-Pandemic World?

What’s happening? Startup Parallel Flight Technologies is building heavy duty drones that an help in fighting wildfires by carrying equipment and can help by transporting organs for transplant.

Why is this important? The vast majority of drones can fly for 15 minutes. The heavy duty drone can reach speeds from 60 to 100 mph and carry up to 100 pounds over longer distances.

How will this be important? Regulatory and legislative issues with heavy duty drones and drone statutes/regulations.

Santa Cruz Sentinel via Governing | California Company’s Heavy-Duty Drones to Help Fight Wildfires

What’s happening? The pandemic slowed the EV impact to the ever declining gas tax revenue.

Why is this important? TN just landed the F150 Ford EV manufacturing facility and also just raised regulation fees for EVs to $100 to account for the lack of gas taxes paid by EVs, but the average vehicle gas tax for TN is $300.

How will this be important? mTN and Libertarian think tanks favor pay as you drive taxes/fees.

Chattanooga Times via Governing | Without Gas to Tax, EVs Will Change Highway Funding