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Issue Archive
CFTE Update
April 17, 2006 - Vol. 4, No. 5
Any comments on the newsletter, our site, or resources you want
to be sure we know about, please e-mail us at info@cfte.org.
Ridership Up in 2005
TABOR Measures Return to Ballots
Push is On for Transit Funding in Pennsylvania
Administration Says Trust Fund Headed into the Red
Trends in Transportation Ballot Measures Report
Ridership Up in 2005
TRANSIT USE UP 25% OVER THE PAST DECADE; OUTPACES GROWTH IN VMT
A report released by the American Public Transportation Association
last week showed that more than 9.7 billion trips were made on U.S.
public transportation systems in 2005, representing a 1.3 percent
increase over 2004. The study also found that over the last ten
years, public transportation use increased 25.1 percent compared
to a 22.5 percent increase in highway vehicle miles traveled during
the same period. The report found that light rail, including modern
streetcars, trolleys, and heritage trolleys, had the highest percentage
of increase among all modes, registering a 6.0 percent increase
in 2005. Some communities saw dramatic increases in ridership posting
double digit percentage increases. The ridership news comes on the
heels of a U.S. Department of Energy forecast predicting new spikes
in gas prices this summer. ATPA data found ridership increases last
year in the wake of rapidly rising prices. These increases have
largely been sustained even as price increases eased. CFTE is prepared
a new public transportation 'myth vs. fact' report series. The first
issue, due later this month, will focus on ridership issues. Watch
the CFTE website for more details.
Read the report.
TABOR Measures Return to Ballots
BALLOT MEASURES THREATEN TRANSIT, OTHER PROGRAMS IN TEN STATES
Tax Payer Bill of Rights (TABOR) measures are constitutional amendments
that restrict state government revenue and expenditure growth to
the sum of inflation and population growth. Voter approval is typically
required to override the caps. TABOR amendments are usually promoted
by anti-tax advocates. TABOR measures can have dramatic and disastrous
effects on the ability of states and communities to deal with transportation
and other infrastructure investment.
Colorado began the first, and remains the only, state to adopt a
TABOR amendment. Despite its robust growth and relatively high per
capita income, Colorado now ranks 35th in transportation funding,
6th worst in the nation on highway and transportation maintenance,
and received a 'D+' from the American Society of Civil Engineers
for the shape of its infrastructure. The effects of TABOR were so
significant voters in Colorado last year voted to life the caps
for five years in order to catch up on needed investment.
In spite of TABOR impacts in Colorado, activists in several states
are pushing TABOR ballot measures in 2006. Three states already
have TABOR measures that have qualified for the November ballot:Maine,Oklahoma
and Ohio. Other states have measures attempting to qualify for the
ballot. These states includeArizona,Michigan,Missouri,Nevada,Oregon,Montana,
and Wisconsin. TABOR legislation has also been introduced in a number
of states.
Check
out the latest '06 ballot news.
The Ballot Initiatives Strategy
Center monitors TABOR and other measures.)
Push is On for Transit Funding in Pennsylvania
GRASSROOTS GROUPS MOBILIZE FOR DEDICATED FUNDING
Last year Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell (D) established a Transportation
Funding and Reform Commission by executive order. The commission's
charge was to examine the "structural imbalance" in funding
for public transportation. The commission is in the process of holding
hearings across the state and must produce a report containing recommendations
addressing a wide range of transportation funding issues. The report,
due in November to the Governor and General Assembly, will recommend
specific funding sources and amounts.
Grassroots organizations across the commonwealth are mobilizing
to urge the commission to endorse a permanent and reliable funding
source for public transportation and new policies that focus on
maintaining existing transportation infrastructure and favor investments
to improve mobility and reduce congestion on the existing network
versus building new roadways. The coalition is working to bring
together a diverse array of interests in support of more reliable,
balanced funding.
Read recent
transportation headlines.
Find public transportation
supporters in your state.
Administration Says Highway Trust Fund is Headed into the
Red
CONGRESS TOLD FUND DEPLETING FASTER THAN ORIGINAL ESTIMATES
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing
last week to discuss the Highway Trust Fund Revenue Estimates. When
Congress passed SAFETEA LU last summer it was done with the expectation
that the guaranteed funding levels prescribed in the bill would
be honored for fiscal year 2005 through fiscal year 2009. The Administration
is now estimating that the Highway Trust Fund will have a negative
cash balance of $2.3 billion at the end of fiscal year 2009. CBO
believes the balance, currently at $11 billion, will decline over
the next three years, leading to its exhaustion by the end of 2010.
Get more infomation
in CFTE's research trends section.
Trends in Transportation Ballot Measure Report
REPORT TAKES COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT ELECTORAL, FISCAL TRENDS
The Center for Transportation Excellence is preparing a new research
report on ballot measures related to public transportation. The
report will examine the recent history of these ballot initiatives
and referenda. In addition, the report will look at and quantify
a variety of key measures related to finance mechanisms used in
ballot measures. The report will discuss factors related to ballot
measure success and detail the growth in local support and voter-approved
financing for public transportation.
CFTE is currently compiling information on past measures. In effort
to ensure that the report is as comprehensive as possible, CFTE
encourages transit agencies and other regional partners on transit
initiatives to send information regarding all transportation ballot
initiatives/referenda in their region from 2000 - 2006.
All information can be sent to info@CFTE.org
Any comments on the newsletter, our site, or resources you want
to be sure we know about, please e-mail us at info@cfte.org.
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