The Iowa Department of Transportation asked SSTI for assistance building public support for a gas tax increase to fund critical repair and maintenance work. SSTI contracted with Spitfire Strategies, a strategic communications firm that works exclusively with nonprofits and foundations, to help Iowa craft effective messaging that would resonate with policymakers and key stakeholders. Based on SSTI and Spitfire’s work in Iowa and recent polling, this paper outlines how transportation professionals can gain support for a “fix-it-first” approach to transportation policy. It highlights messages and tactics that have effectively garnered voter and policymaker support and presents lessons learned from the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Revenues
Evaluation and Performance Measurement of Congestion Pricing Projects (NCHRP, 2012)
TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 694: Evaluation and Performance Measurement of Congestion Pricing Projects is designed to help transportation agencies select or develop measures to evaluate congestion-pricing projects; collect the necessary data; …
Cost of Alternative Revenue Generation Systems (TRB, 2011)
This report evaluates and measures the administrative, collection, and enforcement costs associated with five revenue-generating policies: fuel tax, tolling, VMT fees, congestion pricing, and parking fees. Download the full report here.
Equity of Evolving Transportation Finance Mechanisms (TRB, 2011)
As traditional transportation funding mechanisms increasingly struggle to pay for the construction, maintenance, and operations of state transportation systems, new mechanisms are being introduced around the country. These new mechanisms come with equity questions. This …
Impacts of the Recession on Public Transportation Agencies, 2011 Update: Survey Results (APTA, 2011)
This report summarizes the survey results from transit agencies that asked how they coped with decreased state and local funding following the recession. Download the full report here.
Report of Minnesota’s Mileage-Based User Fee Policy Task Force (Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 2011)
Over a period of six months, the Task Force, appointed by Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel, discussed and evaluated the overall MBUF concept and related issues, determined benefits and concerns, considered potential system …
Moving Forward on Public Private Partnerships: U.S. and International Experience with PPP Units (Brookings Institution, 2011)
This report examines how states can create Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and still avoid the pitfalls of these often complex financial contracts. Download the full report.
SSTI Review of PennDOT’s Smart Transportation (SSTI, 2011)
Smart Transportation is Pennsylvania DOT’s integrated response to the crisis of crumbling infrastructure, limited revenues to address it, and the need to better align transportation with community revitalization and sound land use policy. PennDOT was the first state program reviewed in detail by SSTI, and remains one of our prime examples of a thoughtful DOT wrestling with the challenges of fiscal austerity, sustainability, and system preservation. The review was done at the request of PennDOT to assess the effectiveness of its Smart Transportation program in integrating land use and transportation in its decision-making and to identify areas of opportunity to advance the Smart Transportation agenda.
Transportation Governance and Finance (NCSL and AASHTO, 2011)
The first nationwide comparative review of state-level transportation governance and finance based on original survey research. This valuable resource reveals the variety of ways that states have chosen to handle matters related to transportation governance …
Value Capture for Transit (SSTI Snapshot, 2010)
Value capture methods of funding public transit allow cash-strapped governments to harness the economic benefits of transit improvements. Download Value Capture