A new report from IBM argues that the health of the country depends on the health of our cities, but the current “business model” of most local governments is not sustainable in the current environment of budget cuts and little to no local revenue growth. Local governments’ current problems, the report’s authors argue, are structural, and not totally a symptom of the recession, and the provision of public infrastructure cannot be financed with existing public revenue streams.
revenues
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 …
Gas consumption down to 2000 levels
Better vehicle fuel-efficiency and moderating demand for highway travel are combining to push gasoline consumption down to its lowest levels since 2000. Despite our growing population, Americans are using less gas.The downward trend both exacerbates the erosion of fuel taxes as a source of transportation funding, but at the same time suggests that agencies may be able to economize by rethinking capacity projects.
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.
Virginia DOT begins public-private partnership to maintain state rest areas
To defray operating and maintenance costs associated with rest areas and welcome centers in the state, the Virginia Department of Transportation recently announced that it has entered into a public-private partnership with CHR Catering to …
CAFE standard sound off
The new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard has been released and there is no shortage of opinions on its worth. Here is a roundup of various responses to the Obama administration’s new fuel efficiency standard: …