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Nov 6, 2010

ELECTION REPORTS * USA - Voters weigh in on transportation issues

Transportation-related initiatives

Grain Valley,MO,USA -OOIDA's/Land Line Magazine, by Keith Goble -5 Nov 2010: -- On Nov. 2, voters in several states had their say on various transportation-related initiatives. Here is some of they, state-by-state breakdown of how many of those initiatives fared on Election Day . APPROVEDS Propositions:

* California
- 22: Statewide: Prohibits the state from taking or borrowing local government and transportation funds under any circumstances. Among the funds that will be off-limits to the state are fuel taxes dedicated to transportation and transit improvements, local government property taxes for public safety, and the portion of the diesel tax dedicated to public transit.

- Measure K: Anaheim: Prohibits the Anaheim City Council from enacting an ordinance to permit or authorize any red-light camera or other automated traffic enforcement system. Voters would have to decide whether to change the rule.

- Measure F: Alameda County: Increases vehicle registration fee by $10 to raise about $11 million each year with 60 percent of the county’s revenue earmarked for roads. Another 25 percent will be used for congestion relief work. Another 10 percent will help make technology improvements at traffic signals. The rest of the money will be used on projects that include crosswalks, sidewalks and lighting.

- Measure B: Marin County: Increases vehicle registration fee by $10. Roads will get 40 percent of the anticipated $2 million a year in revenue, transit will get 35 percent, and another 25 percent will be used to address projects related to climate change and pollution.

- Measure AA: San Francisco County: Authorizes vehicle registration fee to increase $10. The estimated $5 million a year will be used for congestion mitigation, street and road repairs, and to improve transit and pedestrian and biking routes.

- Measure M: San Mateo County: Increases vehicle registration fee by $10. Projected to raise about $7 million a year, the revenue will be split between cities and the county. Allowable uses of the funds for cities are roadwork and transit.

- Measure B: Santa Clara County: Increases vehicle registration fee by $10. About 80 percent of the estimated $14 million generated will go for roads. Another 15 percent will be designated for other transportation-related projects.

* Colorado
- Referendum 2D: Snowmass Village: Authorizes a mill levy to raise $357,000 annually for five years. The tax will pay for transportation services and equipment. The tax replaces a 0.81 mill levy that ends this year. The levy funds two retiring bonds for roads and operational facilities.

* Ohio
- Issue 56: Garfield Heights: Changes the city charter to prohibit use of red-light cameras and speed cameras to enforce traffic laws.

* Rhode Island
- Question 3: Statewide: Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to match federal funds to improve roads, bridges and transit buses. As much as $80 million can be used for road work. The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority can use up to $4.7 million to buy and rehabilitate buses.

* Texas
- Proposition 1: Austin: Authorizes a $90 million transportation bond. Road and streets projects will get 57 percent of the funds. Alternative transportation projects, such as sidewalks and bike lanes, will get 43 percent. Approval of the bond allows distribution of $100,000 to design a solution to relieve congestion on the Mopac Expressway.

- Proposition 1: Baytown: Prohibits use of traffic cameras to issue tickets for a traffic violation without a police witness.

- Proposition 1: Richland Hills: Asked voters whether they wanted to stay in the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, also known as the T. The T services Tarrant County and the North Central Texas region. Breaking from the T would have freed up a half-cent sales tax for other needs.

* Washington
- Proposition 1: Bellingham: Raises the sales tax by up to 0.2 percent for pay annual street repaving; building sidewalks, crosswalks and bike lanes; and contracting with the Whatcom Transportation Authority to buy extra bus service. The tax, which will be in effect for 10 years, is estimated to generate $3.8 million annually.

- Proposition 1: Mukilteo: Requires a two-thirds majority of the City Council and a majority of voters to authorize any future use of automated traffic cameras. Fines would also be limited to $20, the amount of the least-expensive parking ticket.

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posted by Unknown @ 11:01 AM  0 comments

Aug 28, 2008

BALLOT TIMES * USA - Transportation initiatives address funding needs

Election Day 2008 is a little more than two months away... There are ballot issues in several states that also are of great significance for truckers and others who rely on highways and other roads

Grain Valley,MO,USA -Land Line Magazine, by Keith Goble -August 26, 2008: ... here is a sampling of what was found.

* Colorado - A statewide initiative – Amendment 52 – calls for applying a severance tax for road and bridge work. It is intended to dedicate any additional revenue the state generates from the tax to help pay for repair projects...

* Alaska - The state’s ballot will include a question about whether to borrow $315 million for road work around the state.

* Kansas City, MO - Voters there will decide whether to help fund an $815 million starter light-rail route. The proposal would authorize a three-eighths-cent sales tax increase for 25 years. The revenue would help build a 14-mile connector linking the city to the north and south.

* St. Louis, MO - Another transit initiative is up for consideration in Proposition M on the countywide ballot would authorize a half-cent sales tax increase for public transit. If approved, half of the $80 million that is projected to be generated annually would be used for transit operation and maintenance costs.

* Washoe County, NV - Two transportation questions are on the ballot in Question 2 on the countywide ballot will ask voters whether to increase the general sales tax by one-eighth of 1 percent. If approved, the sales tax question would raise an estimated $280 million to support existing mass transit... Question 5 is an advisory question only. It will ask voters in the county whether to authorize the Washoe County Board of Commissioners to seek state legislation to adjust gasoline and diesel taxes to help offset a shortfall for street repairs, highway and transit systems. It is estimated that the measure would increase the tax paid in the county on a gallon of gasoline by 2 cents per gallon. The county tax paid on a gallon of diesel would increase about 2.4 cents.

* Berkeley County, SC - A countywide ballot question in South Carolina would authorize a special local option sales tax. Voters in will decide on a penny sales tax referendum that would include funding for county roads. It also would make the area eligible for matching state and federal funds.

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