CFTE Update
CFTE Update is published every other week. Have CFTE Update
delivered to your inbox. Subscriptions are free.
Issue Archive
CFTE Update
May 26, 2006 - Vol. 4, No. 7
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.
In this issue …
• Tucson Voters Approve $2.1 Billion Transportation Measure
• CaliforniaVoters Head to the Polls on June 6
• Study Finds Transit Benefits Exceed Subsidies
• House Subcommittee Examines Future of Infrastructure Finance
• Transit Advocates, Agencies Join in 'Dump the Pump' Day
Tucson Voters Approve $2.1 Billion Transportation Measure
VOTERS SUPPORT REGIONAL PLAN & HALF-CENT SALES TAX
Voters in Pima County , Arizona approved both a new regional transportation
plan and a half-cent sales tax to implement the plan. The plan was
supported by 60% of Tucson-area voters. The accompanying dedicated
sales tax won with 58% of the vote. The tax is expected to generate
$2.1 billion over the next 20 years.
The package contains an array of highway, transit, and safety projects.
Approximately one-third of the funding will support expanded transit
in the region, including a streetcar connecting University Medical
Center and downtown Tucson . The funding from the sales tax for
the streetcar will allow Tucson to match available federal funding
for the project.
An aggressive campaign in support of the two measures was led by
business groups and transportation advocates. The Yes! for Regional
Transportation Committee raised more than $1 million for the campaign.
The win comes several previous electoral defeats of similar measures.
Results
and updates on 2006 elections.
California Voters Head to the Polls on June 6
FOUR COUNTIES TO CONSIDER TRANSPORTATION MEASURES
On June 6th voters in several California counties will be deciding
whether to fund transportation projects that will help ease the
congestion of the notoriously grid-locked state.
Residents of Solano and Napa counties will decide whether they
should raise their sales taxes by half a cent to ease congestion.
Each county has prepared a detailed spending plan for the hundreds
of millions of dollars it expects a tax to generate. A two-thirds
majority vote is needed for the measure to pass.
In Santa Clara County , where voters in 1984 passed the state's
first transportation sales tax, community leaders are trying a different
approach. Voters are being asked to approve a half-cent sales tax
to fund general county services -- affordable housing, health care
and transportation, including the proposed BART extension to San
Jose . A simple majority vote is needed for the measure to pass.
Voters in Monterey County will decide whether to levy a 1/2 of
one percent sales tax for 14 years, secure state and federal matching
funds and create a Citizens Oversight Committee. Supporters say
Measure A will improve safety and traffic flow on Highways 1, 68
and 156, make Highway 101 safer, fill hazardous potholes, improve
local bus service and expand transportation services for elderly
and the disabled.
In Merced County the voters will have a second chance to decide
whether to levy a 30-year half-cent sales tax increase that will
raise $446 million for transportation.
Election Results and Updates
Study Finds Transit Benefits Exceed Subsidies
RESEARCHERS LOOK AT CONGESTION-REDUCTION BENEFITS
Researchers at Washington, D.C.-based policy research organization
used a regional transport model to examine the Washington , D.C.
region and estimate the travel benefits of the local transit system
to transit users and the congestion-reduction benefits to motorists.
The researchers found that rail transit generates congestion-reduction
benefits that exceed rail subsidies, the combined benefits of rail
and bus transit easily exceed local transit subsidies, and that
the lowest-income residents receive a disproportionately low share
of the transit benefits. The report addresses criticism often leveled
at transit alleging that investments are disproportional to the
benefits on congestion reduction.
Read the full report
House Subcommittee Examines Future of Infrastructure Finance
LAWMAKERS FOCUS ON PRIVATIZATION INITIATIVES
Governors Mitch Daniels (R) of Indiana and Governor Tim Kaine (D)
of Virginia were among a handful of experts that testified at the
House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Wednesday
May 24th. The hearing provided the Subcommittee insight into public
private partnerships specifically regarding highway transactions.
Recent high profiles lease agreements for highway toll facilities
in Indiana, Virginia, and Chicago have brought these issues to the
forefront of the debate on the future of infrastructure financing.
Several members of the Subcommittee were critical of ventures underway
in several states, particularly those involving foreign ownership
of public infrastructure.
Governor Daniels argued that Indiana needed to address a funding
shortfall and that after assessing all of the options including
raising the state gas tax, indexing the gas tax, transferring states
sales taxes on gasoline to transportation they decided that a public
private partnership was the only option that would allow them to
fund the states transportation needs in a timely manner. While Virginia
is one of the national leaders on Public private partnerships, Governor
Kaine pointed out "true public-private partnerships are not
free. Someone has to pay a toll or a special tax, share in the risk
of a project, or dedicate private funds that might otherwise go
to private sector profitability."
This was the first in a series of scheduled hearings regarding
infrastructure financing. Hearing transcripts and information is
available from the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Transit Advocates, Agencies Join in 'Dump the Pump' Day
AWARENESS EFFORT HIGHLIGHTS ENGERY VALUE OF TRANSIT
CFTE is joining efforts with APTA in celebrating National Dump
the Pump Day on June 8, 2006.The day is dedicated to raising awareness
that public transit is the quickest way to beat high gas prices.
On June 8, transit agencies from coast to coast will join together
nationwide to ask the public to park their cars and ride transit
instead. After housing, transportation is the second highest cost
for American families, outpacing both food and health care costs.
Since January 2003, gas prices have increased by 100 percent. By
using public transportation on a regular basis, a person can save
between $300 and $3,000 in fuel costs per year.
As gasoline prices have increased, public transit systems across
the United States are seeing an increase in ridership. "People
use public transit more frequently when the cost of gas rises,"
said APTA President William Millar. "National Dump the Pump
Day on June 8 will highlight that by using public transit, people
can beat high gas prices, help reduce traffic congestion and assist
our country in beating our oil addiction."
More information
****************************************
Center For Transportation Excellence
1640 19th Street, NW, Suite 2
Washington, DC 20009
www.cfte.org
|
