CFTE Update
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CFTE Update
January 18 , 2008 - Vol. 6, No.1
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In this issue …
•National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue
Study Commission Releases Report
•Voters Head to the Polls in Florida Later the Month
•The American Public Transportation Association Hosts a Policy
Forum
•Idaho State Legislature to
Consider Transportation Funding
•Missouri Election Updates: St Louis County & Kansas
City
National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study
Commission Releases Report
MAJOR REFORM RECOMMENDED
Earlier this week, the National Surface Transportation
Policy and Revenue Study Commission released a report entitled “Transportation
for Tomorrow: Report of the National Surface Transportation Policy
and Revenue Study Commission”. The Report includes detailed
recommendations for creating and sustaining a pre-eminent surface
transportation system in the United States.
Congress created The National Surface Transportation Policy and
Revenue Study Commission in 2005 under Section 1909 of the Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act—A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The 12 members of the commission
represented federal, state and local governments; metropolitan
planning organizations; transportation-related industries; and
public interest organizations.
The Commission examined the current condition and future needs
of the nation's surface transportation system. It also considered
short and long-term alternatives to replace or supplement the fuel
tax as the principal revenue source to support the Highway Trust
Fund over the next 30 years. In the report the United States transportation
infrastructure system was broken down into four components: freight
rail lines, highways and bridges, ports, and mass transit systems.
To view the full
report
Voters Head to the Polls in Florida Later the Month
PROPERTY TAX REFORM COULD CUT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
Rapidly rising real estate values in Florida have increased property
taxes to levels that many homeowners and potential homeowners cannot
afford. In a special October session, the Florida state legislature
put together a tax reform package designed to lessen the property
tax burden. On January 29, 2008 voters will be asked to support
a constitutional amendment that if approved by 60 percent of voters,
would result in homeowners receiving on average $240 in annual
savings. This small amount of savings translates into an estimated
$9.6 billion in lost revenue over the next five years for local
governments and services such as transportation.
Unions representing labor, teachers, police and firefighters have
joined together to form the “Florida is Our Home” campaign,
to oppose the amendment. The Amalgamated Transit Union in Tampa
has mailed letters to its members encouraging them to preserve
public services by voting against the amendment.
The probable effects of the amendment are already being discussed
throughout Florida. The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation
Authority (TBARTA) was created last July as a means of improving
and expanding transportation options for citizens in the seven
counties of Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas
and Sarasota. Without proper funding, TBARTA cannot complete its
mission of creating a master plan for regional transportation in
the Tampa Bay area by July of 2009. Transportation in small cities
like Pinellas Park in Pinellas County will be affected by budget
restraints if the property tax reform is approved. A city-operated
mini-bus transit system has been proposed, but plans cannot move
forward while the city is unsure of its funding ability.
For more election
information and results
The American Public Transportation Association Hosts a
Policy Forum
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION AND ENERGY CONSERVATION: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION’S
STRATEGIC ROLE
A policy forum featuring the latest research on the strategic role
of public transportation in greenhouse gas reduction and energy
conservation will take place on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 in Washington,
DC.
The transportation sector in the United States is the second largest
and fastest growing contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. As
Congress moves to address climate change, the American Public Transportation
Association (APTA) and partnering organizations are hosting a
forum to discuss how public transportation coupled with efficient
land use is emerging as an important component in greenhouse gas
reduction and energy conservation strategies. Americans need new
mobility choices and new transportation strategies for the United
States to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets and reduce our
dependence on imported oil.
Featuring expert discussion, the forum will present new research
showing that public transportation significantly reduces greenhouse
gas emissions and impacts energy conservation. Among the presenters
are APTA President William Millar, Mariia Zimmerman of Reconnecting
America, Center for Transit-Oriented Development, Don Chen of Smart
Growth America, Scott Bernstein from Center for Neighborhood Technology,
and other experts.
In addition, we will hear from leading advocates about the best
opportunities to advance federal public
transportation policy in 2008 and 2009 and their plans to do so.
The forum is specifically designed to benefit congressional staff,
environmental organizations, transportation associations, business
members, advocates, and U.S. federal agency officials who are interested
in shaping and advancing public transportation as a strategy to
curb global warming and reduce energy dependence. The forum provides
an opportunity to hear from and engage in depth with key experts
in the field.
For more information on the forum
Idaho State Legislature
to Consider Transportation Funding
BILL TO ALLOW LOCAL-OPTION SALES TAXES FOR TRANSPORTATION
Early this year, the Regional Transportation Act will be presented
in the Idaho state legislature. The bill will create regional transit
authorities (RTAs), which can ask voters to approve local-option
sales taxes for transportation funding. A similar bill was
introduced last year, but revenue use was limited to public transit
projects. Representatives from many rural areas were not
willing to support transportation funding if it would not make
money available for highway improvements. Without their support,
the bill did not make it out of committee.
The current version of the bill was drafted by the Coalition for
Regional Public Transportation, made up of local government and
business leaders, and its provisions are intended to meet the needs
of both rural and urban legislators. This new bill would still
provide funding for public transit but it also allows that money
to be spent on highway improvements. Another change that
was made to appease legislators wary of passing a bill that could
create new taxes, is an increase in the standards for voter approval
of local-option sales taxes. Measures need to pass with a supermajority
(66.66%) instead of a 60% majority, and election dates are limited
to May primaries and November general elections. Voter turnout
in these elections is higher, which means increased difficulty
for achieving a supermajority.
If the local-option sales tax were to be approved in both Ada
and Canyon counties then as much as $15 million would be generated
for every quarter cent of sales tax. That money could be used to
fund projects such as "constructing, operation or maintenance
of any city, county highway district and state highways in the
region and public transportation systems."
For more transportation
news
Missouri Election Updates: St Louis County & Kansas
City
TRANSPORTATION ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER 2008
Last fall, the Kansas City Council and the St. Louis County Council
voted to put transportation initiatives on the February 5, 2008
ballot. Before the year was out, both Missouri initiatives had
been postponed.
Voters in St. Louis County were being asked to approve a half-cent
increase to the transit sales tax to support maintenance and expansion
of the MetroLink system. But with all the problems that the transit
agency has been having (losing an $81 million lawsuit and the resignation
of its president), the county executive and council decided that
it would be prudent to wait until public opinion of Metro improves
before asking voters for their money. Council members have not
determined when they will put the question back on the ballot,
but the primary election in August or the general election in November
are likely options.
Bringing light-rail to Kansas City has been an arduous task for
the city council since the first vote in November 2006. The
plan approved in that election was determined to lack feasibility,
and the first remedy was to ask voters on February 5, 2008 for
their support in repealing the old plan and developing a new one.
Instead, the council repealed the 2006 election results on its
own and removed the question from the February ballot. A self-imposed
mandate requires the council to approve a light-rail plan and put
it on the ballot no later than November 2008. Currently, the Kansas
City Area Transportation Authority is developing a plan for a “fast
streetcar” type of light-rail system that should be completed
by August. If that timeline is followed then next November
is the earliest that voters can expect to see it on the ballot.
Kansas City Council members are currently deciding whether they
will couple the light-rail vote with the renewal of a 3/8 cent
bus sales tax or if the two votes will fair better separately.
If brought to the ballot independently, Kansas City voters may
be asked to renew the bus tax as early as April.
Get election results and regular election
updates.
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