InfoHive – Transportation

The State: New Jersey

What is a Turbine Port?  New Jersey’s turbine port will be the 1st U.S. port dedicated to constructing the colossal turbines

What are the economic numbers behind the turbine port?

• $300-400 Million Green Infrastructure Project
• Create Up to 1,500 jobs
• $500 Million in Economic Activity
• New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) development
• Financing options will be public, private, and public-private partnership (P3)

Coastal News Today | NJ – New Jersey aims to lead nation in offshore wind. So it’s building the biggest turbine port in the country

The State: Florida

How did Florida Legislature build EV Charging Infrastructure into its Essential State Infrastructure bill?

• Establishing a timeline for the EV Infrastructure Plan
  • Dec. 1, 2020 status report due
  •  July 1, 2021 final plan must be submitted
  • Developed by State Transportation & Energy Agency Officials
• Requires EV Charging staging areas in rural communities along Florida’s turnpikes 
• Supported by need for EV charging along hurricane evacuation routes

Fresh take Florida via Governing | New Law Would Develop EV Charging Network in Florida

The question answered by the Texas Attorney General Opinion: Whether over-the-road buses traveling on interstate highways in Texas are subject to the tandem axle weight limitations established in Transportation Code ?

The answer: Yes they are subject to the tandem axle weight limitations . We don’t care if there is a federal exemption & the feds aren’t stopping us.

KP-0313 (2020)

Which company: Alto

What is Alto? A Dallas based personalized ride share company that manages its own fleet of 65 vehicles

How did Alto adapt more quickly? By owning its own fleet, it quickly installed plexiglass shields, ensures sanitizing of its vehicles, and installs a security camera in each vehicle. + Alto did a quick conversion into a delivery service out of pure necessity. 

How is Alto adapting to an economy that exalts companies that do right by their employees? Alto provides a salary, benefits, and sick leave to its approximately 130 drivers. Alto also provides masks, gloves, sanitation training, & temperature checks before each shift.

When will Alto expand? By August/September 2020 expansion to Houston & expansion to California by end of 2020.

Dallas Morning News | Unlike Lyft and Uber, Dallas-based Alto was built for a global pandemic

• 18 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions reduced per year
• 100% asset-based renewable electricity contract
• 0 emissions from the EVs with on-site charging from renewable sources
• $400/ year savings per car
• $72,438 grant from Houston-Galveston Area Council for emissions reduction incentives

Port Technology | Port Houston purchases electric vehicles in eco-friendly initiative

Yes, Sterling County may call a bond election to cover the cost of improvement of Sterling municipal roads if:

• Sterling’s municipal government gives consent
• the city streets are an integral part of or a connecting link to a county road or a state highway

This question has been subject of court opinions for decades, so what statutory authority is relied upon? Texas Constitution article III, section 52(b) or (c)

KP-0311 (2020)

How will public transportation in Philadelphia be different after COVID?

• imposing rider limits
• marking off seats for social distancing
• requiring passengers to wear facial coverings
• leaving its roof hatches aboard buses open for better airflow
• replacing cloth seats for easier cleaning

What other options may be forth coming:

• three-day passes geared toward workers without a standard 9-to-5 schedule
• unlimited free transfers to encourage alternate routes
• make Regional Rail more accessible

Philadelphia Inquirer via Governing | Philadelphia Transit Will Look Different Post-Coronavirus

Where: Wyoming

What tweaks to a miles driven vehicle fee are being considered?

• Lower fees for miles driven on highways because that causes less wear

Landline | Wyoming transportation panel looks at road use charge

Who: Tesla

What: Tesla’s last earnings call included information about its move to subscription pricing for its full self-driving package

What are financial analysts saying? Tesla is the only company that is ” fully monetizing its autonomous driving assets at scale“

The concern for financial analysts: REGULATION of the transportation subscription service

Electric | Tesla going into software subscription service could become big business

Where: Georgia

What does Georgia want to replace the sales tax on ride share with? A flat 50 cent per ride fee

The legislation: HB 105 (2020 | GA) (Article 8)

How did ride share start paying sales tax in Georgia? Via a market place facilitator bill. Making the 8.9% tax on ride shares in Atlanta, Georgia one of the highest in the U.S.

Would ride share fee revenue be dedicated? Yes, the fee revenue would be dedicated to public transportation funding

Atlanta Journal Constitution | Uber fee, freight bill top Georgia lawmakers’ transportation priorities