CFTE Update
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Issue Archive
CFTE Update
August 6 , 2007 - Vol. 5, No. 6
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In this issue …
- Voters Decide if MUNI Should Receive an Increase in
Operations Funding
- Pennsylvania Legislature
Approves Transportation Package
- Stalemate Continues in California
- Mecklenburg County Voters Weigh Transportation
Needs
Voters Decide if MUNI Should Receive an Increase in Operations
Funding
MTA REFORM GAINS UNION SUPPORT
San Francisco's Mayor Gavin Newsom and union leaders announced
their support of a revised version of Supervisor Aaron Peskin's
Muni reform bill at a City Hall news conference on Monday, July
23. The endorsement of union leaders, whose heavy criticism
of the original measure could have prevented the Board of Supervisors
from approving the ballot measure, represented a major achievement
for the MTA reform efforts. The new version of the ballot
measure represents a compromise that would continue to guarantee
salaries comparable to the two highest-paid transit workforces. Currently,
a drivers' base pay is $26.77/hr which is based on a formula averaging
the salaries drivers receive at the two top-paying transit agencies
in the country. However, management would also be free to
offer more in exchange for changes in work rules and assignment.
Additionally, the measure would change hiring practices, raising
the percentage of managerial workers who could be dismissed at
will from 1.5 to 2.75 percent. The original proposal called
for a 10 percent increase. The measure would also give the
Board of Supervisors more authority in approving or rejecting Muni
budgets by decreasing the number of supervisors it would take to
block a Muni budget from eight of 11 to seven.
If voters approve the measure, Muni operations would receive an
increase in the revenue that they receive from parking fines, meters
and city-owned garages from 40 percent to 80 percent. Not
only would the MTA board have the authority to increase meter rates
and parking fines but also regulation of parking rules, stop signs
and traffic signals. Peskin is expected to formally introduce
the changes to the proposed charter amendment today and the package
would be voted on by the full Board of Supervisors July 31.
For a complete list of 2007
Transportation Ballot Initiatives
Pennsylvania Legislature Approves Transportation
Package
MAJOR SERVICE CUTS AVOIDED
Both the Pennsylvania state House and Senate have passed a 10
year transportation package that would give an average of $956
million to mass transit agencies and for road and bridge projects. The
only step remaining is a signature by Gov. Ed Rendell who has expressed
support for the bill. Without the increase in funding, mass
transit faced massive service cuts that could have affected thousands
of Pennsylvania 's commuters. Gov. Rendell and legislators
have cited the need for funding to address nearly 6,000 structurally
deficient bridges -- the highest number of any state -- and more
than 8,500 miles of roads that are in need of repair.
The money provided in the bill counts on future earnings of Pennsylvania
Turnpike from a 25 percent increase in tolls on the turnpike and
I-80. However, raising the tolls on the interstate would
require federal approval. In the meantime, the commission
would require borrowing more than $13 billion over more than a
decade to meet the funding levels. Critics of the plan argue,
however, that it sends too much money to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Last
year, the state spent $853 million on mass transit. Between them,
the Philadelphia region's Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation
Authority and the Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh's
transit agency, account for 89 percent of state subsidies and 90
percent of total rides.
For more transportation
news
Stalemate Continues in California
STATE SENATE FAILS TO APPROVE A SPENDING PLAN
In a 26-14 vote held Wednesday night, the California State senate
failed to approve a bipartisan spending plan. For nearly two weeks,
Senate Republicans have held up the budget as they've pushed for
greater spending cuts and other changes. The Assembly approved
the budget July 20. The Assembly approved plan includes a number
of major cuts to key state programs including a $1.3 billion cut
public transit funds. The money collected from gasoline sales taxes
was already programmed to be used build new public transportation
projects and to operate light rail and bus line.
These cuts will have a dramatic impact on a number of communities
throughout the state. Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
officials have reported that the plan could cost the agency about
$14 million this year for improved bus and rail service, though
the additional funds for operations might reduce that hit. In Los
Angeles local transportation officials characterized the cut as
a major setback, warning that certain projects could get delayed
for years. Among them is the Expo Line light rail extension that
would connect Culver City to Santa Monica, a project that local
officials have envisioned for decades. The city of Santa Monica
has already
purchased land for a station.
Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland said he was frustrated
by Republicans' unwillingness to put up the votes for a budget
that Democrats have only reluctantly agreed to support.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released a statement saying he was "very
disappointed the Senate failed to pass the budget" and blamed
Republicans for the impasse."The origin of this stalemate
was a bold call by Republicans to eliminate the operating deficit
this year," he said. "I committed to doing exactly that
by vetoing $700
million from the budget with my line-item authority. There is no
reason the people of California should be forced to go a single
day longer without a budget. We are now more than a month late
and the gridlock is unacceptable."
The State Legislature plans to resume negotiations on the budget
after they return from their summer recess in mid-August.
For more transportation news.
Mecklenburg County Voters Weigh Transportation Needs
REFERENDUM TO REPEAL THE TRANSIT TAX ON NOVEMBER BALLOT
This November citizens of North Carolina's Mecklenburg County
will be asked to decide if they want to repeal the a special sales
tax that funds mass transit. This half cent sales tax which generates
about $70 million was first approved 1998 by 58 percent of the
Charlotte area voters. However, there is a growing group
of citizen's that are frustrated with the delays and cost overruns
associated with the first phase of the light rail project. These
transit tax opponents have gathered nearly 49,000 signatures on
petitions calling for a referendum to repeal the tax, which qualifies
the measure for the November ballot.
Charlotte 's LYNX Blue Line South Corridor, currently under construction,
is the first light rail project in North Carolina . The LYNX Blue
Line is 9.6 miles long, running north from I-485 at South
Boulevard to 7th Street in Center City Charlotte. The
system will operate on two tracks (northbound and southbound) generally
within the existing railroad right-of-way paralleling South Boulevard
Many of the anti- transit tax advocates believe that Charlotte-Mecklenburg
can be best served by a bus-only mass transit system, not both
bus and rail. Transit supporters have been explaining to voters
that 60 to 70 percent of the money collected from the sales tax
currently is used to operate the present bus system. If that revenue
is lost a sizeable increase in property taxes is about the only
alternative available to make up for the lost revenue.
It will be up to the citizens of Mecklenburg County to weigh the
options and decide the direction of both the current and future
transit system.
For a complete list of 2007
Transportation Ballot Initiatives
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