Transportation

What’s happening? The constitutional amendment to establish that gig workers are not employees saw the state’s largest political contribution ever with a $14.4 M contribution by Lyft.

Why is this important? The ballot fight in California was that state’s most expensive. That initiative was declared unconstitutional by California lower courts.

How will this be important? The MA Attorney General is currently suing tech companies over the issue. Both CA and MA are showing the the issue to be complicated in terms of regulation, legislation, litigation, and campaigning.

Boston Globe | Lyft makes largest one-time political donation in Massachusetts history, fueling gig worker ballot fight

What is happening? Swedish-Kenyan Startup OPIBUS is beginning service for its EV mass transit bus.

Why is this important? By 2023 their mass transit will operate throughout Africa.

How will this be important? OPIBUS is pivoting to the building of EVs and supportive infrastructure

TechCrunch | First EV mass transit bus by Swedish-Kenyan startup Opibus begins operation amidst plans for regional launch by 2023

What’s happening? Shell is rolling out converted some UK gas stations that now offer EV charging.

Why is this important? Chargers at the station can charge most EVs from 0% to 80% state of charge in 10 minutes

How will this be important? Shell has announced it will be net zero carbon by 2050. It is calling these converted stations the future. California is considered the first location for EV gas station conversions.

AutoWeek | Shell Station Converted to EV Charging Is a Glimpse of the Future

What is happening? PA is considering toll payment options from Venmo, PayPal and others as an instant form of payment.

Why is this important? The new instant forms of toll payment would not replace other payment options but would be in addition to the other payment options.

How will this be important? The automatic payment options are also seen as a means to reduce unpaid tolls which increased during the pandemic to $104 million in uncollected tolls.

Route Fifty | Are Venmo and PayPal the Future of Turnpike Tolling?

What’s happening? Michigan has a EV partnership with IL, IN and WI.

Why is this important? Part of the partnership includes installing EV chargers around Lake Michigan to reduce range anxiety, and as we talked about to support the tourism on the Lake Michigan circuit. Bonjour! ecotourism.

How will this be important? Michigan is all in with more than $1 billion in EV incentives. It’s competing with EV manufacturing in TN and NC.

Government Technology | Multi-State Partnership to Bring EV Circuit to Lake Michigan

What is happening? Norway is being touted as the leader in EV policies. Let’s note that Norway is also oil rich with its North Sea oil. In 2021, 8% of the cars sold in Norway ran only on oil. In 2015 20% of the cars sold in Norway were EV.

Why is this important? Incentives in Norway include generous tax incentives and free tolls and parking. Some say a key in Norway was there was no range anxiety.

How will this be important? The two can coexist- pro EV and Pro oil.

NY Times | Is Norway the Future of Cars?

What is happening? Oregon and Washington State have joined forces to promote EV adoption.

Why is this important? The states are promoting EV adoption by adopting two pieces of legislation:

• Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule
• Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program

How will this be important? By targeting large and medium size trucks the emission reductions helps at warehouses and roadways where emissions may disproportionally impact Black, LatinX and communities of people of color.

How will this be important? These policy pieces require truck manufacturers to sell an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles in Washington and Oregon, 55% of new Class 2b-3 trucks, 75 percent of new Class 4-8 trucks, and 40% of new Class 7-8 tractors by 2035. The ZEV program requires manufacturers to sell an increasing number of electric passenger vehicles.

GreenBiz | Two states build one of the world’s largest EV markets

What’s happening? The US has its 1st EV fire trucks in Los Angeles and Rancho Cucamonga. The trucks arrived from Austria.

Why is this important? There are only 3 fully EV drive train fire trucks in existence: Berlin, Amsterdam and Dubai.

How will this be important? The adaptable trucks are anticipated to have less maintenance costs and with the addition of on truck back up diesel power can extend the truck’s range.

California News Times | Los Angeles, Rancho Cucamonga to get first electric fire trucks in North America

What’s happening? Everyone is talking about supply chain. Some experts say this is nothing new in that the transition to 24/7 supply chain has been ongoing

Why is this important? Some shipping companies are offering incentives for truckers to collect containers on nights and weekends & incentives for timely pickups. Some ports are opening pop up container storage to move things along

How will this be important? The trucking side of this coin says safe parking and reduced detention times are crucial

Transport Dive | Supply chain stakeholders offer incentives to keep trucks moving through West Coast ports

Transport Dive | The transition to 24/7 supply chains, and the pursuit of long-term solution

What is happening? New year, hello! 2022, and new laws, SB 911 (2021 | TX) around delivery services in Texas.

Why is this important? The state laws specifically pre-empt city ordinances and limit misleading uses of trademarks, fees that are not agreed to in writing are prohibited, provide mechanisms for customers to complain to the delivery service, 10 day cap to remove a restaurant after a request, and provides a means for restaurants to sue delivery services.

How will this be important? California has passed something similar. NYC & Washington State are into capping fees. NYC has also considered setting parameters around consumer data.

@eaterAustin

Austin Eater | New Bill Increases Third-Party Delivery App Transparency in Texas

What’s happening? Transportation policy experts say that 2021 transportation policies have added a distinct element of social equity.

Why is this important? Transportation policy now uses phrases like “universal basic mobility.” We’ve talked about cities eliminating fees for transportation in the heat of the pandemic and beyond. It isn’t limited to L.A., it is also Kansas City.

How will this be important? “The return on investment for compassion, for empathy, for social equity … far outweighs the return on investment in concrete and asphalt. What do you want to invest in?” Robbie Makinen, CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority in Kansas City, Mo. The experts sy this change in transportation policy mindset is just beginning.

Government Technology | 2021 Set Public Transit Towards Equitable, Accessible Future

What is happening? Colorado Transportation Commission reduced the amount of greenhouse gases & support the state’s push for more EVs

Why is this important? Opposition came from a group of business interest groups that says the regulations harm an ongoing investment in relieving traffic congestion

How will this be important? The Transportation Commissions work dovetailed with regulations from the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission for new rules that would require more frequent inspections of oil and gas well sites to reduce methane.

Denver Post via Governing | Colorado Approves New Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations

What’s happening? Florida’s Governor is proposing a cut to the state’s gas tax to help cut the impact of inflation.

Why is this important? The proposal calls for suspending the state gas tax for 6 months.

How will this be important? Policy minds say that it is easier to suspend the gas tax than to re-write other portions of state tax code. Call it an easy way to cut taxes.

Route Fifty | Florida’s governor is backing the idea of suspending his state’s gas tax for six months

What is happening? Michigan is returning motor vehicle payments that funded the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association and has a $5 B surplus.

Why is this important? Michigan is known for its high car insurance rates. To combat that reputation, the Governor is calling on the state to rebate $400 to every vehicle in the state from the surplus proceeds of the MI Catastrophic Claims Assoc.

How will this be important? Returning excess taxpayer revenue to the state’s taxpayers is trendy

NPR | Every Michigan driver will get $400 for each vehicle they own, the state says

What is happening? NJ’s Governor is calling for proposals for  “Trenton Mobility & Opportunity: Vehicles Equity System (MOVES),” an all electric transit system that would serve 90,000 in Trenton.

Why is this important? The plan is for electric autonomous minibuses to serve routes

How will this be important? Microtransit is on the rise with other programs in Europe, Brooklyn and Texas

Governing | Gov. Murphy Calls For Electric, Self-Driving Transit Proposals

What’s happening? Since the pandemic, sales of bikes has soared.

Why is this important? Bikes and bike rentals, are seen as safer with bigger wheels and a place to put a bag.

How will this be important? In San Antonio, TX bikes are legally permitted on all city streets and trail and can travel up to 15mph. The regulatory quagmire remains the elusive bike lane and protecting the safety of bikes.

San Antonio Express News via Governing | Will Scooters, E-Bikes Thrive in a Post-Pandemic World?

What’s happening? Startup Parallel Flight Technologies is building heavy duty drones that an help in fighting wildfires by carrying equipment and can help by transporting organs for transplant.

Why is this important? The vast majority of drones can fly for 15 minutes. The heavy duty drone can reach speeds from 60 to 100 mph and carry up to 100 pounds over longer distances.

How will this be important? Regulatory and legislative issues with heavy duty drones and drone statutes/regulations.

Santa Cruz Sentinel via Governing | California Company’s Heavy-Duty Drones to Help Fight Wildfires

What’s happening? The pandemic slowed the EV impact to the ever declining gas tax revenue.

Why is this important? TN just landed the F150 Ford EV manufacturing facility and also just raised regulation fees for EVs to $100 to account for the lack of gas taxes paid by EVs, but the average vehicle gas tax for TN is $300.

How will this be important? mTN and Libertarian think tanks favor pay as you drive taxes/fees.

Chattanooga Times via Governing | Without Gas to Tax, EVs Will Change Highway Funding

What’s happening? States are paying for the build out of EV charging stations in rural areas with grant funding, incentives, tax credits, and public private partnerships.

Why is this important? The start ups are coming into urban areas to own and manage charging.

How will this be important? The federal Infrastructure Bill has funds for just this purpose.

Governing | Finding the Funding for Rural Outposts in America’s EV Grid

What is happening? Virginia passed a law enforcement reform package that included prohibiting traffic stops & searches for things like smelling marijuana to minor traffic offenses.

Why is this important? The goal of the legislation was to address that a disproportionate number who are pulled over are BIPOC.

How will this be important? Let’s watch who follows suit.

NPR | Cities Looking To Reform Police Traffic Stops To Combat ‘Fishing Expeditions’

What is happening? Philadelphia police will not conduct low level traffic stops like when a tail light is out.

Why is this important? The purpose is to address racial disparities in traffic stops without compromising public safety. Instead of the stop a ticket could be mailed to the registered address of the vehicle.

How will it be important? Minneapolis has scaled back similar police stops, and other states have passed legislation.

NPR | Why Philadelphia has banned low-level traffic stops

What is happening? Meet the High Speed Rail Alliance, ” a growing community working to bring the game-changing power of fast, frequent and affordable trains to North America.”

Why is this important? It covers projects in California, Texas, Florida and the Upper Midwest

How will this be important? “And in an era of intensifying climate change, it has the lowest carbon footprint—by far—of the three options.”

High Speed Rail Alliance

What is happening? A proposal for high speed rail between Chicago and St. Louis is added to the list of high speed rail projects that include California, Texas Central, and Florida.

Why is this important? The funding for foundational work for the Chicago project came from the Infrastructure Bill and in August lawmakers in Illinois created the Illinois High-Speed Railway Commission.

How will this be important? The Chicago project points out that not everyone has a car to make the 284 mile trip, and the same goes for the HSR lines in other states too, a time efficient train trip is a solution.

Government Technology | Anticipation Grows for Illinois High-Speed Rail Project

What’s happening? Meet Opibus, a US VC funded, Kenya- Sweden partnership to convert existing buses and motorcycles to EV.

Why is this important? Opibus was founded in 2017 when it focused on vehicle to EV conversation

How will this be important? The biggest set backs are scaling up fast enough and adequate charging infrastructure

Tech Crunch | EV conversion startup Opibus raises $7.5M to start bus and motorcycle mass production

What’s happening? Lyft is self imposing regulations that if a passenger establishes their account with anonymous payment source, like Venmo or a gift card, the passenger must also provide an alternative form of identification

Why is this important? Minneapolis is experiencing a spate of carjackings of ride share drivers

How will this be important? Codification of this is in the future

Bring Me the News | Lyft adds new safety feature amid spate of Minneapolis carjackings

What’s happening? Data shows that 3 of 5 scooter accidents happen when scooters are on sidewalks. 1/3 of these accidents occur on sidewalks when sidewalk riding is not permitted

Why is this important?

• D.C. is requiring scooters to be locked in docks when not in use. D.C. is also requiring 25 new docks be constructed.
• Pittsburgh capped scooter speed at 15mph, down from 25.

How will this be important? Cities have taken away from these safety ordinances that working with a few companies makes it easier to reach an agreement on agreed to safety measures.

Route Fifty | Localities Pose Stricter Rules on E-Scooter Use, But Challenges Remain

What is happening? Part of the federal infrastructure bill is to require all new vehicles by 2026 to have a mechanism to stop drunks from driving.

Why is this important? US DOT will determine the appropriate technology.

How will this be important? The technology most likely to come out on top is infrared cameras that monitor driver behavior

AP | Congress mandates new car technology to stop drunken driving

What’s happening? Seattle Mayor Executive Order during the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference includes ways to incentivize the electrification of vehicles

Why is this important? The order establishes establishes a $1 million program to convert heavy-duty diesel trucks — including school buses, garbage trucks and drayage port trucks

How will this be important? Converting the drayage vehicles to EV, which travel from he port through neighborhoods that are more dramatically impacted by clean air will help Seattle be a leader in for environmental justice.

Seattle Times via Governing | Seattle Extends Climate Policies, Including Students’ Free Transit

What’s happening? Seattle Mayor signed an Executive Order extending free transportation to middle school students, expanded from the current free for high school students.

Why is this important?  More than 13,500 high school students in the city participate in the current program, this expansion could add as many as 8500 students.

How will this be important? The goal is to free up roadways and teach transit use to younger generations & will improve diversity and inclusion by offering greater access to schools for BIPOC students who have disproportionately less access to transportation options.

Seattle Times via Governing | Seattle Extends Climate Policies, Including Students’ Free Transit

What’s happening? Elon Musk’s The Boring Company is proposing building tunnels that would use auto driving Teslas to transport people to beaches.

Why is this important? The local goal is to improve traffic flow and downtown congestion.

How will this be important? The Boring pitch is we can cut the cost from $1B a mile to $10 M a mile with new technology that allows us to build while we excavate making the process 15 times faster.

South Florida Sun Sentinel | Elon Musk Wants to Build Beach Tunnels in Fort Lauderdale

What’s happening? Miami Beach is elevating roadways to preserve its infrastructure as sea levels rise.

Why is this important? Miami Beach’s rational : “Miami Beach is at the forefront of resilience efforts to reduce flood risk from storms, high tides and sea level rise. We strongly believe the city’s resilience program benefits all properties, including this one.”

How will this be important? Property owners contend that elevating the roadways instead directed flood waters to their property.

Miami Herald via Governing | Miami Beach Lifts Roads Due to Sea Rise, Floods Nearby Homes

What’s happening? California has a statewide program to encourage TNCs to move to EVs. The California Air Resources Board crafted the the nation’s first vehicle electrification plan for transportation network companies and finalized it with the miles standard program that  2% of all TNC trips must be in electric vehicles by 2023 and that ramps up to 13% by 2025, 50% by 2027 and 90% by 2030.

Why is this important? Whether the EV standards are realistic for TNC companies is a point of contention. TNCs operating in California have until January 2022 to submit two-year plans to begin meeting the regulation.

How will this be important? Let watch and see what incentive programs emerge for EV adoption because of these programs

Freightwaves | Bay Area Uber EV drivers can get discounts on Wallbox chargers

What’s happening? Uber and Wallbox are partnering to make it easier for Uber drivers to have access to a callbox charger for their EVs.

Why is this important? The pilot projects currently limited to the Bay Area and will offer Uber drivers a discounted package for a Wallbox charger, installation and financing options. If successful the program will be nationwide.

How will this be important? “Climate is a team sport and Uber is committed to doing our part to expedite the transition to zero-emissions mobility. Making electric vehicle charging solutions available at scale is essential to achieving our goals and we are excited to partner with Wallbox on this mission.” – Andrew MacDonald, Uber senior vice president of mobility and business operations

Freightwaves | Bay Area Uber EV drivers can get discounts on Wallbox chargers

What’s happening? Chic 1960s luxury train service is returning in Europe as a sign that luxury rail will be a viable option in lieu of short range flights.

Why is this important? Alternatives to short range flights is a competitive service. Think of the business bus services moving between Austin Dallas and Houston.

How will this be important? Luxury trains on existing tracks have an allure as short term air travel and luxury don’t often overlap.

@BLOOMBERGBUSINESSWEEK

What’s happening? Prague is a tourist city and yet it has found a way to prove its transit fares help its citizens by charging more for single use tickets that are often used by tourists.

How is this important? The scale of Prague’s transit fares are roughly:

• Free for under 15 and over 65
• Reduced annual passes for senior light of about $65
• Regular annual fare $165
• Student prices for 15-26 years old $65

For tourists the fares are $1.50 for 30 minutes, $2 for 40 minutes, and $6 for 24 hours.

Why will this be important? By offering low rate annual fares it trains citizens into long term thinking for transit and frees up roadways.

Governing | Why Prague Has One of the Best Tram Systems in the World

What’s happening? Nashville is adopting new regulations for large party vehicles. Party Vehicles are back?! Supporters include Nashville Downtown Partnership, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and community coalition Safe Fun Nashville.

Why is this important? Nashville regulations will cover:

• permitting
• route approval
• driver eligibility and training
• vehicles’ adherence to operation standards
• liability insurance standards.
• restrict alcohol consumption on unenclosed vehicles for the first time

How will this be important? The large party vehicles had gone largely unregulated in Nashville- how about your city? Add in the state legislature where Nashville wants to clarify that it has the authority to regulate these vehicles.

Tennessean | Rules for revelry: Nashville passes its first regulations for large party vehicles

What’s happening? New South Wales Parliament in Australia just passed new EV reforms the are being told as the most generous for EV drivers.

Why is this important? The new EV incentives include:

• $3,000 rebate for new electric cars priced below $68,7500
• EVs below $78,000 get a stamp duty exemption
• incentives like the right to travel in T2 and T3 transit lanes
• $161 million on expanding the EV-charging network
• zero interest loans and a stamp duty exemption.

How will this be important? The program was designed to meet Australia’s goal of 50% EV sales by 2030

The Driven | Australia’s most generous EV support package passed into law

What’s happening? Los Angeles Mayor’s office created a non-profit, Urban Movement Labs, to work with citizens & air taxi service companies to avoid the regulatory issues that ride share and scooters had. Regulations would include infrastructure like vertiports, noise issues, and zoning laws.

Why is this important? Getting stakeholders involved before regulations can streamline the process by recommending a proposed regulatory structure.

How will this be important? Sets forth a model to handle all new novel issues.

Tech Crunch | How Los Angeles is preparing for the air taxi takeoff

What’s happening? Ohio is warning that it has a shortage of plow driving that threatens to leave roads full of snow.

Why is this important? On an average winter Ohio employee 3300 plow truck operators that work 12 hour shifts. The state currently needs more than 500 more drivers.

How will this be important? Whether Ohioans can move about their roads, and get to and from school, work, the grocer, that has electoral impacts. A happy person translates into the voter booth.

Advance Local Media LLC via Governing | Ohio Warns Plow Driver Shortage May Slow Snow Clearing

What’s happening? Ev sales increased 41% during the pandemic as car sales overall dropped 16%

Why is this important? The future of EV sales includes:

• Germany extending incentives for EVs through 2025 + doubling consumer incentives
•  116 million electric vehicles will be on the road by 2030 by Bloomberg estimates
• 145 million EVs in use 10 years from now according to International Energy Agency estimates

How will this be important? 230 million EVs on the road by 2030 according to the International Energy Agency if more aggressive climate standards are enacted

NASDAQ | Investors tap into new opportunities as EV sales surge

What’s happening? Norwegian chemical company Yara International has developed the world’s first zero-emission, autonomous cargo ship.The Ship’s name is Yara Birkeland.

Why is this important?m Its more cost effective with zero carbon emissions. The ship has no crews. It has crew on the ground in 3 locations monitoring the ship’s movement.

How will this be important? The ship will also be loaded and unloaded with autonomous vehicles.

@globalpositivenews

What’s happening? This spring the Colorado Legislature passed SB21-260 (21 | CO) that required the Department of Transportation to account for climate consequences in their transportation plans. Now those plans are out in the wild.

Why is this important? The plan looks to Electric Vehicles and Zero Emission vehicles to make the greatest impact , specially as trucking industry moves to zero emission choices.

How will this be important? Colorado looked to the experiences of California, Massachusetts and other coastal states by:

•  restricting some state and federal transportation money for use only on climate-friendly projects 
• provide for offsets for major projects
• public input to direct greenhouse gas limits

Denver Post via Governing | Colorado Proposes Climate-Conscious Transportation Rules

What’s happening? Orlando and NASA are partnering to prepare the city for flying vehicles.

Why is this important? The partnership will help the city plan for vertiports, landing pads for the oversized drones. The planning will include economic development and infrastructure.

How will this be important? The vertiports will include charging infrastructure. The partnership to build out the port’s infrastructure includes Lillium, City of Orlando, Tavistock Group, & Lake Nona’s developer.

Orlando Sentinel via Governing | Orlando Partners With NASA to Prepare for Flying Vehicles

What is happening?  M.J. Bradley & Associates, the Georgetown Climate Center, and nonprofit Ceres, the Evaluation and Development of Regional Infrastructure for Vehicle Electrification have developed an online mapping tool.

Why is this important? Using federal data it allows policymakers to consider demographic, economic, and environmental factors when choosing new charging stations

How will this be important? Can be customized to region, state, metropolitan area, county, or transportation corridor, by fast-charging plug type, or overlay information on commercial locations, potential access to home charging, and population density

GreenCar Reports | Where should future EV Chargers be?

What is happening? The City of Cleveland is partnering with a non-profit Bike Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, the Ohio Department of Transportation, LAND Studio, and the Cleveland Foundation to support the city’s Vision Zero Action Plan with the goal of reducing traffic accidents.

Why is this important? This is a data driven partnership that takes into account:

• collection and dissemination of data on crashes
• establishment of lower speed limits
• designing safer streets that naturally “calm” traffic

How will this be important? 51 cities across the country have adopted Vision Zero Action plans. There’s a partnership nearby for you.

Governing | Cleveland Launches Project to Reduce Traffic Deaths to Zero

What’s happening? The Governor’s of MI, MN, IL, IN & WI have formed REV Midwest — the Regional Electric Vehicle Midwest Coalition.

Why is this important? The Governors say that they want to improve the region’s economy while also reducing toxic emissions.

How will this be important? REV Midwest is being touted as the leader on electric vehicle adoption, reducing carbon emissions, spurring innovation, and creating good-paying jobs

REV Midwest Memorandum of Understanding

NPR | 5 Midwestern governors agree to create a network to charge electric vehicles

What’s happening? Texas Governor signed HB 19 (2021 | TX) that attorneys for injured drivers, not at fault, say that the insurance coverage of the trucker, delivery driver or ride share won’t cover all their medical costs.

Why is this important? The number of  motor vehicle lawsuits have increased by 118% while the number of crashes has increased by only single digits.

How will this be important? The bill’s author said,  “If there’s any part of the bill that would hinder a Texans’ ability to seek those damages, then the bill won’t move. I promise you that.” 

KXAN | New Texas law could shield trucking, rideshare and delivery companies from some lawsuits after crashes

What is happening? Toronto is introducing mandatory in-person road training for rideshare.

Why is this important? Uber and Lyft both say that they fully support mandatory road training for public safety.

How will this be important? Whether this trend repeats.

BlogTO | Toronto Could Soon Force Uber and Lyft Drivers to Complete Special Training

What is happening? Ford Motor Company is committing Billions to 2 EV manufacturing facilities. One located in Kentucky and the other in Tennessee.

Why is this important? Let’s look at the numbers:

• 11,000 jobs in total
• 5,000 in Kentucky
• 5,800 in Tennessee
• KY will house a $5.8 billion battery manufacturing complex
• KY’s economic development deal: $250 million forgivable loan, 1,550 acres of property for the facility and $36 million towards job training
• $7 billion from Ford for the facilities in TN & KY
• $5.6 billion to build a 3,600-acre “mega campus” in TN to produce all-electric F-Series trucks and advanced batteries
• $500 million in advanced incentives are being offered by TN for successful completion

How will this be important? This is part of a total of $30 B investment from Ford to see fully electric vehicles to make up 40% to 50% of its U.S. sales by 2030

Route Fifty | Ford to Invest Billions in Electric Vehicle Production in Two States

What’s happening? New Jersey is unveiling a solar powered bus stop with LED lighting, USB charging outlets and motion censors for safety and conservation.

Why is this important? Riders returning to mass transit are said to be expecting more tech.

How will this be important? A solar powered bus stop price tag is $11,900 and are being tested in NJ, NY, PA, Canada

Governing | New Jersey Unveils Solar-Powered, USB-Equipped Bus Shelter

What’s happening? Michigan’s Governor is proposing a series of EV chargers to be installed along Lake Michigan near tourist destinations. The Governor refers to the program as Lake Michigan Electric Vehicle Circuit.

Why is this important? The Governor says “we’re going to serve as the best new road trip for electric vehicle owners in America”

How will this be important? This is the first time I’ve seen the tie between EVS and tourist spots, there have been mentions of state parks like Rivian’s state park chargers in Colorado.

Detroit Free Press | Whitmer wants EV charging circuit around Lake Michigan

What is happening? Oregon Governor signed SB 794 (2021 | OR) that would charge out of state RVs 25% more at state parks.

Why is this important? Policymakers say it evens out the RV playing field as Oregonians pay extra to register their RV with Oregon’s DMV.

How will this be important? Whether other states will follow suit and impose tourist taxes

Salem Statesman Journal | ‘Tourist tax:’ Oregon State Park campsites to cost 25% more for out-of-state RV travelers

What’s happening? Local governments looking to switch their fleets to EVs are also looking for incentives and grants. Here’s what is available:

• Federal Highway Administration’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program 
• EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program
• Alaska “Fleet applicants and rental companies located at Ted Stevens International Airport are eligible for $1,500 per charger and up to $3,000 per location.”
• “California Air Resources Board (ARB) provides vouchers to eligible fleets to reduce the cost to purchase qualified electric and hybrid trucks and buses at the time of purchase. Vouchers are available on a first-come, first-served basis and range from $2,000 to $315,000 depending on vehicle weight and type”
• In California, “PG&E’s EV Fleet Program offers competitive incentives to facilitate the installation of EVSE for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fleet to support organizations in electrifying their fleet operations”
• Colorado’s  Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant program & the Colorado Department of Local Affairs offer funding for municipalities, counties, and special districts to cover the cost of AFVs for public fleets.
• Illinois waives fleet registration fees for EV fleets
• Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ Clean Vehicle Project provides grants for public and private fleets
•  Nevada Energy provides rebates for purchasing and installing Level 2 chargers and DC fast-charging stations including for fleets
• New Mexico’s Alternative Fuel Acquisition Revolving Loan Program provides loans to state agencies, political subdivisions and educational institutions to acquire AFVs
• Washington’s Green Transportation Grantprogram provides funding to transit authorities to electrify fleets and install electric vehicle infrastructure among other green transportation projects. 
• cities and counties across the country—from Honolulu to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Montgomery County, Maryland—have also banded together to form an electric vehicle purchasing collaborative

Why is this important? Switching to EVs has a cost to purchase the EV fleet, but results in lower maintenance costs.

How will this be important? As more local governments switch to EV fleets, more EV grants or incentives will emerge.

Route Fifty | Electric Vehicles Poised to Rev Up Government Fleets

What’s happening? Michigan and Indiana are both vying to be the first state with a mile long roadway that charges EVs.

Why is this important? Michigan will move forward with its Inductive Vehicle Charging Pilot. Indiana will use magnetizable concrete to enable wireless charging of EVs.

How will this be important? EV charging roadways are functioning in Europe and small test areas exist in the U.S. but a long stretch of public roadway in the U.S. is forthcoming if this Indiana and Michigan competition is any indication.

Detroit Free Press via Governing | Michigan Challenges Indiana in Wireless Charging Road Race

What’s happening? A proposal for a high speed rail from Las Vegas to Los Angeles is gaining calls for wildlife bridges to protect the mountain sheep along the rail line.

Why is this important? How this high speed rail project considered the wildlife bridge may be telling for other rail lines and may be a way to preemptively make amends with opposition.

How will this be important? let’s watch and see how this unfolds- wildlife bridges the new negotiating tool

@LosAngeles Times on twitter

What’s happening? Houston is expanding its EV fleet with a transition anticipated in 2030. The city anticipates recouping about $55 million of that cost in fuel savings and avoided maintenance costs

Why is this important? The current fleet is 15 EVs. This year it is adding 100 EV light duty trucks and transit vans.

How will this be important? The charger roll out will be 3 phases. (1) replace 42 chargers destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. (2) add chargers at police and fire stations (3) add chargers to parks and other city-owned spots.

Houston Chronicle | Advocates charged over Houston plan to add 100 electric vehicles in shift to gasoline-free fleet

@hou_climate on twitter

What’s happening? Elizabeth Warren has sided with gig workers to be classified as employees as the fight about gig worker classification plays out in Massachusetts.

Why is this important? Like in California, industry has proposed a ballot proposition to ensure that gig workers are not employees.

How will this be important? Let’s watch what all the states do. Some will codify that gig workers are contract workers, some will codify that gig workers are employees, and some will have ballot propositions. It’s who is on which side that helps you shape your allies.

WWLP | Warren to join opposition to potential app-based driver ballot question

What’s happening? A new study by Reason, SHOULD GOVERNMENTS LEASE THEIR AIRPORTS?, says 31 airports could free up $131 billion for infrastructure improvements in local governments. It works by a local government leasing or selling its airport, a revenue-producing asset. Congress’ 2018, The new Airport Investment Partnership Program, allows cities to enter into public private partnerships for their airports. Those lease proceeds can then be used as general revenue.

Why is this important? Cities have seen revenues impacted by the pandemic and this would provide access to new general revenue without raising taxes.

How will this be important? Look to the 3 most likely leases: global airport companies, infrastructure investment funds, and public pension funds. The value of the 31 airports, including multiple in Texas and California, can be found here.

Reason | Study: Leasing 31 U.S. airports would generate $131 billion to fund other infrastructure and pay debt

Governing | Why Big-City Airports Are Prime Candidates for ‘Asset Recycling’

What’s happening? A podcast interview with Texas Central Rail CEO illuminates that the federal Infrastructure Bill could impact construction which is not expected within the next 6 months.

Why is this important? The federal infrastructure bill could open up  $12 billion in federal loans

How will this be important? 40% of the land n necessary for the project has been secured

Railway Age | Texas Central CEO Not Optimistic Construction Will Start in Six Months

What’s happening? Heart Aerospace, a Swedish start up, is building EV airplanes.

Why is this important? Their initial electric airplane, ES-19, will have an operating range of 400 km

How will this be important? Maintenance costs are estimated to be 100 times less.

@swedense

What’s happening? 8 states, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah, will allow digital drivers licenses on Apple Devices in apple wallet

Why is this important? users will upload their physical drivers license and a selfie, and other photos for verification, and the state’s approval will add the license to Apple wallet.

How will this be important? 8 states now, but as we grow more accustomed to touches payment systems, this number will grow. Airports are touting it as making travel more seamless.

The Hill | Apple to introduce digital drivers licenses in eight states

What’s happening? 3 truck companies are embracing solar power on their trucks: Rush Enterprises; Marten Transport, and Mesilla Valley Transportation

Why is this important? Solar power on trucks is augmenting truck battery life for liftgates, telematics and refrigeration units in trailers

How will this be important? Solar power is also being integrated into their facilities and influencing their suppliers and manufacturers

Transport Dive | Solar power in trucking’s forecast as fleets find energy, cost savings

What’s happening? The trucking industry has a driver shortage. States like Oregon and New York are waiving certification fees for women.

Why is this important? Anticipating a shortage of 100,000 drivers by 2023, recruitment of women is increasingly common.⁣

How will this be important? In 2019 only 6.7% of long haul truckers were women

@businessweek

What is happening? Tennessee Valley Authority, the entity that brought electricity to Appalachia, is pledging to switch its fleet to EV by 2030. With all its passenger cars converting, and 1/2 of its trucks.

Why is this important? The plan is not immediate purchase, but as vehicles age out, the replacement will be an EV, allowing for the EV market to reduce its costs too.

How will this be important? TVA also partnered with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to build.a network of recharging stations at least every 50 miles on Tennessee’s major highways

Chattanooga Times via Governing | At Least Half of TVA Vehicles to Be Electric By 2030

What is happening? Rural roads see 50% of traffic fatalities even though the rural population is 1/5. That means the fatality rate is twice that of urban areas.

Why is this important?

• Illinois is looking at deadly rural intersections to improve signaling
• South Carolina is installing rumble strips, wider pavement markings, brighter signs, high-friction surface treatments, guardrails
• Minnesota is adding real-time warnings about traffic conditions
• Kansas is examining accident data to identify commonalities among different areas that can lead to design changes

How will this be important? Access to funding and creative solutions are the name of the game.

Pew Charitable Trusts via Governing | Car Crashes, Deaths on Rural Roads Spark Safety Discussions

What’s happening? Pennsylvania is adding a miles driven fee to compensate for declining gas tax revenues.

Why is this important? The numbers behind the new miles driven fee:

• 33% fee reduction for trucks
• 8.1 cents per mile fee for delivery and freight trucks inlet of the diesel tax of 73 cents a gallon
• 3X the cost for a car that drives 13,000 miles per year at an average of 25 mpg
• $15 billion a year needed for transportation funding annually in Pennsylvania to meet transportation needs
• $1 fee for package delivery
• $1.11 fee for each ride share ride
• $5 (up from $3) state vehicle rental tax

How will this be important? Every state has declining gas tax revenues and many are considering miles driven fees.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette | Under proposed mileage fee, truckers could save 33%, but cars would pay three times more

What is happening? Phase 1 goals of identifying technology modes and alignments, two modes are proposed to be carried forward: high-speed rail and hyperloop. Phase 1 recommended moving into Phase 2.

Why is this important? High-speed transportation alternatives would “accommodate the current growth and provide residents with safe, reliable and efficient travel. “

How will this be important? The final recommendation will connect to local transportation systems & link to future high-speed options.

Ft. Worth | High-speed transportation study moving ahead

What is happening? Iowa has new rules for autonomous vehicles and trucks that include demarkation on registrations that indicate if the vehicle can operate without a driver on gravel.

Why is this important? Iowa wants to be prepared for when vehicles arrive in Iowa so that business know what the rules of the road are.

How will this be important? Iowa is laying the frame work for restricted registrations of vehicles “just to make sure that they are not operating in scenarios that they might not be prepared for.”

Automated Vehicle Project in Iowa

Radio Iowa | Transportation Commission approves rules for driverless cars and trucks

What’s happening? In December 2020 (what is time?) we talked about Peachtree Corners Georgia which had recently installed solar panels into roadways to support EV charging infrastructure.

Why is this important? EV manufacturers say the presence of charging infrastructure increases the sales of EVs

How will this be important? The solar embedded in the road are a partnership between the lab and The Ray solar roadway in Troup County

Gwinnette Daily Post | U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visits Peachtree Corners to discuss electric vehicle plans

What’s happening? This November’s ballot in Texas will include a HJR 99 (2021 | TX) that will allow counties to issue bonds or notes to finance development of “an unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted area.” 

Why is this important? Cities already have this authority in Texas

How will this be important? The 2 limits placed on the bond sale include:

•  prohibit counties from allocating more than 65% of annual property tax revenue increases annually to repay the bonds
• no toll roads

Landline | Texas voters to decide on transportation bonds

What’s happening? A pilot project in Iowa is using data to identify the worst intersections for wrong way driving, the best place to place warning signs, the best kind of warning signs (signage, flashing lights, cameras…)

Why is this important? 60% of wrong way drivers are alcohol impaired, but the pilot is also gathering data on when and where to notify drivers of the wrong way

How will this be important? if this project reduced wrong way driving it can be replicated.

Route Fifty | A $1M Project to Prevent Wrong-Way Driving

What’s happening? Port queues have increased by 1 hour at the 25 busiest US Ports. Innovation & Automation has been the name of the game. Port of Houston has used innovative smart technology to map and track containers, and the Port of Los Angeles has automated cranes.

Why is this important? Port traffic continues to grow and some unions push back against innovation and automation.

How will this be important? As traffic increased and demand increases, innovation and automation will be vital. Private sector technology will be key to improve port flow.

Governing | Our Ports Have a Problem. They Can Solve It If We Let Them

What’s happening? City fleet adoption in NYC, Columbus OH, led to advancing charging capabilities in the cities.

Why is this important? City fleets are also spurring innovation like solar car ports, robots switching out batteries, and wireless charging.

How will this be important? Its holistic including workforce development with local universities and community colleges to support the new EV charging technologies.

Governing | Cities Can Leverage Greater EV Adoption With Their Fleets

What’s happening? Trying to follow in the footsteps of California’s $200 M ballot proposition that clarified that gig workers are not employees, the Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work is working a ballot initiative in Massachusetts to clarify that gig workers are not employees

Why is this important? Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work  is a coalition that includes  Uber Technologies Inc., DoorDash Inc., Lyft Inc.and Instacart Inc. 

How will this be important? Worker classification will be an ongoing legal, legislative and regulatory free for all.

Bloomberg Technology | Uber, Lyft and Others Push Gig Work Measure in Massachusetts

What’s happening? Aligning with Executive Order 1, Build Back Better investments the President by Executive Order will :

• require 1/2 of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell electric vehicles
• Require development of long-term fuel efficiency and emissions standards to save consumers money, cut pollution, boost public health, advance environmental justice, and tackle the climate crisis.

Why is this important? The rational is economic competitiveness with China plus clean air goals, climate change and keeping investments in the U.S.

How will this be important? The Presidential fact sheet sets forth the following EV specific goals:

• Installing the first-ever national network of electric vehicle charging stations.
• Delivering point-of-sale consumer incentives to spur U.S. manufacturing and union jobs.
• Financing the retooling and expansion of the full domestic manufacturing supply chain.
• Innovating the next generation of clean technologies to maintain our competitive edge.

The White House | FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces Steps to Drive American Leadership Forward on Clean Cars and Trucks

What’s happening? Miami, FL & Austin, TX will be home to 1,000 Robotaxis taxis beginning in December and Ride Share worries about the impact to ride share drivers.

Why is this important? The Robotaxis are a partnership between Argo AI along with Ford and Lyft.

How will this be important? Innovation and automation are driving factors, but no analysts think a 100% Robotaxis driven fleet will emerge. Drivers will still have a place.

Miami Herald via Governing | Miami’s Incoming Robotaxis Worry Uber, Lyft Drivers

What’s happening?  Israel-based company REE Automotive is bringing its skateboard-style EV platform to the USA, with a US headquarters in Austin TX. One of REE’s investors is Koch Strategic Platforms.

Why is this important? REE is focused on fleet vehicle market offering a ready-made, fully customizable electric vehicle platform

How will this be important? REE’s innovation in x-by-wire technology has allowed it ” to develop a modular, fully-flat skateboard chassis with more room for passengers, cargo and batteries that will be highly adaptable to customers.”

CleanTechnica | Company With “Skateboard” Electric Vehicle Platform Sets Up Headquarters In … Austin, Texas? (With A Koch Twist)

What’s happening? Indiana’s Department of Transportation is testing a magnetized concrete for roadways that can charge EVs as they are driven.

Why is this important? Indiana is working with ASPIRE, Advancing Sustainability through Power Infrastructure for Road Electrification, funded by the National Science Foundation, the consortium of government, university, and business is devoted to working up new charging technologies for battery-electric vehicles. 

How will this be important? You and I first talked about roads that can charge EVs a couple years ago with a cement being used near Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, Sweden. Follow the dots, ya’ll.

Autoblog | Indiana to test highways that can charge moving EVs

What’s happening? Add Mercedes Benz to Gm, Stallantis, and Renault that have all vowed to move to all EV. In 2025 Mercedes will shift its focus entirely to EV with output of only EVs in 2030.

Why is this important? The EU has a 2035 deadline for all EV vehicle sales. To meet that Mercedes is dedicating $47 Billion to EV development for cars, light commercial vehicles and vans. We see you Amazon Mercedes delivery vans.

How will this be important? Mercedes will take a tighter control of battery manufacturing with partners world wide including in the U.S. likely in the South, likely in Alabama.

NY Times | Mercedes-Benz will shift its focus to electric vehicles by 2025.

What’s happening? We hear a lot about AZ and TX have low regulatory hurdles for autonomous vehicle testing. Some say it lures companies. If you’re Nuro the robot vehicle that delivers things like groceries, you choose Houston, TX because of topography. It’s flat. It is sprawling. It has a diverse customer base.

Why is this important? It’s like that old lawyer saying- if the facts are on your side, argue the facts, if the law is on your side, argue the law. Here, nascent technologies like AVs handle flat roadways better.

How will this be important? one trick ponies no more- think more holistically- its friendly regulations, a willingness to adapt with industry needs- AND population, diversity, topography.

Governing | Regulatory Landscapes Determine Paths for AV Futures

What’s happening? In January, February & March of 2021, EV registrations exceeded regular vehicle registrations by 3X.

Why is this important?

• 36% increase overall new car registrations from January to April 
•  95% EV registrations up over 2020 January-April
• EVs remain small part of the market at 2.3%
• 71% of new EV registrations are made by Tesla
• 38% of new EVs are registered in CA

How will this be important? Year over year the number of EVS registered keeps increasing

Market Watch | EVs are catching on—registrations were up 95% in early 2021

What’s happening? The Nordic Recycling Center in Gothenburg Sweden will begin recycling WV batteries and fully refining 95% of the materials for future use.

Why is this important? The company says it will ” meet our customers’ needs to dispose of spent batteries in a safe and environmentally sound way”

How will this be important? As EV sales continue to climb, recycling spent batteries is an increasingly new industry

PV | Another battery recycling plant for Sweden

What’s happening? Raleigh, NC is calling for free mass transit

Why is this important? This included an interview with a urban developer that said you’re giving service workers almost a month’s worth of rent by making transit free. That’s a big deal to move workers in and out of a city center.

How will this be important? Free transit also means there’s no changing of cards or money or the passing of germs while that occurs. This is also a permissible use of Federal COVID Relief Funds

Governing | Raleigh Pushes for Permanent Fare-Free Transit

What’s happening?

• 12 States have adopted some form of digital driver’s licenses
• 100.000 Coloradans downloaded the MyColoradoApp
• 10,000 people in Delaware have downloaded the app
• 1.8 M mobile driver’s license accounts set up in Arizona in the last year

Why is this important? Supporters say digital driver’s licenses give the licensee more control over wha information is revealed making it safer, can make online transactions more secure.

How will this be important? More businesses and agencies must adopt the technology necessary to read digital licenses.

Governing | Mobile Driver’s Licenses Could Pave Way for More Digital IDs

What’s happening? Those criticizing regulators for a lack of EV charging infrastructure note that these regulators should follow the gas station model for EV chargers. Others say the gas station model doesn’t work for EVs because 85% of EVs charge at home.

Why is this important? Gas stations are slow to adopt chargers because margins are slim and it is expensive.

How will this be important? It is thought federal funding will have to step in and cover areas that aren’t covered by partnerships that emerge for charging station toll outs.

CBS News | Why is it so hard to find chargers for electric cars? Utility regulations are partly to blame.

What’s happening? GM’s  Brightdrop unit, Ultium Charge 360, fleet charging service will include at home charging for fleet drivers.

Why is this important? Meet the partnership that’s delivering the EV fleet charging: GM, BrightDrop, Duke Energy company eTransEnergy, EVgo, In-Charge Energy and Schneider Electric

How will this be important? This partnership is looking at how can they offer charging that is most convenient for their drivers. It is a change in perspective from what’s best for the company and focuses on the end user (the drivers) needs, or a stakeholder focus.

Tech Crunch | GM to launch fleet charging service to power commercial EVs, even at home

What’s happening? Regional Air can be electric air which makes it a reasonable and clean alternative to high speed rail.

Why is this important? Regional Air doesn’t require acquiring large swaths of land for rail.

How will this be important? As our populations increase, we have to develop innovative ways to move people to and fro.

Flight Global | The USA should invest in electric regional aircraft – not high-speed rail

What’s happening? Harris County is bringing on demand feature of ride share to its public transit system by offering on demand transportation between 2 zones for Harris County Transit Plus, for residents living in Generation Park in precincts 1, 2 and 4.

Why is this important? Local governments are embracing innovation to adapt transportation systems to the needs of their residents

How will this be important? Local governments are getting creative whether its partnerships with ride share or adopting ride share like models.

Mass Transit | Harris County Transit launches on-demand transportation

What’s happening? San Francisco is seeing that ride share riders are leaving and moving to taxi services because of increased use of surge pricing.

Why is this important? Cabbies servicing SFO say airport taxi cab rides have doubled.

How will this be important? Flywheel which works like ride share but uses cabs is seeing record breaking use.

San Francisco Examiner | Uber and Lyft surge pricing drives angry SF customers back to taxis

What’s happening? A program in the city of Leicester, UK converts the top of bus stops into pollinator gardens for bees.

Why is this important? Green space and pollinator gardens keep the bee populations thriving which in turn cleans the air and keeps agribusiness flourishing.

How will this be important? It’s a great space for nonprofits or local governments to promote tangible low cost projects.

@GOOD

What’s happening? CATO writes about how car dealership protections fit in the modern world. CATO points to 3 reasons why the old justifications for protection no longer fit. (1) dealerships aren’t mom and pop shops anymore “The top 10 dealership groups in America have annual revenues around $100 billion—more than any car company. ” (2) foreign makers make the auto market far more competitive (3) there are different sales models that don’t involve inventory on hand

Why is this important? Things change and adapt including laws and rules.

How will this be important? Tesla isn’t the only vehicle company outside the traditional box, Rivian, Fisker, + more. The market is growing.

CATO | Reforming Michigan Vehicle Direct Sales Laws

What’s happening? Baltimore raised 3 reasons to oppose the proposed high-speed Northeast Maglev  between Baltimore and DC. (1)economic equity that negates affordable transportation (2) environmental justice (3)community impacts

Why is this important? The terms have changed since COVID. Now we’re hearing about environmental justice and economic equity.

How will this be important? Setting the post-COVID tone for future project standards.

Baltimore Sun via Governing | Baltimore Opposes Maglev Train Due to Equity, Environment

What’s happening? The former head of the Maryland Secretary of Transportation proposes a beneficiaries pay system that would impose an 8% federal surcharge on all commercial activity occurring on U.S. streets and highways. Costs would be built into our end consumer prices.

Why is this important? Because pay as your drive tax systems are costly to run and implment

How will this be important? The gas tax isn’t keeping pace, and eventually a replacement will be necessary. This tax is based on commercial activity and would be sensitive to inflation and economic trends.

Politico | Opinion | The Gas Tax is Obsolete. Here’s a Better Idea.

What’s happening? New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission voted to block the issuance of new for-hire vehicle licenses for electric vehicles

Why is this important? EVs are currently exempted from existing caps in NYC rules. This vote knocks that exemption out.

How will this be important? The board members took aim at Revel, for wanting to disrupt, the industry. A board member said, ” “This is one of the moments for which the cap was created — to provide a check and balance for businesses whose strategy is to disrupt the system, adding to congestion and putting profits and growth before the City’s welfare,”

The Verge | New York City votes to block new licenses for electric taxis, snubbing Revel’s Tesla plans

What’s happening? Apparently a lot of people inNew Hampshire hit cats with their cars. So many that a bill has been filed to bring justice for the cats. The bill would require you to report the collision to either the animal’s owner or to police

Why is this important? Texas Governor this week vetoed a bill about standards for drinking water for dogs left outside in the Texas heat.

How will this be important? An excellent barometer for how bills that require self reporting function.

Route Fifty |. Me-OW: One State’s Plan to Demand Justice for Run-Over Cats

What’s happening? MyEV.com has named Oklahoma the #1 EV state.

How is this important? Oklahoma landed on #1 with its unique tax for EVs and that their charging network ensures a charger every 50 miles. The tax is levied based on the size of the vehicle and how much it is driven each year.

Why will this be important? The Oklahoma tax is lower for EVs because OK levies a tax on charging. 3-cent tax per kilowatt hour to charge an electric vehicle (EV). There is no tax for EVs that charge at home.

Governing | Oklahoma Hopes to Be Newest Hub for Electric Vehicles

What’s happening? Consumer Energy has a new incentive program that incentivizes businesses to install charging stations. Consumers has $3 million for its  PowerMIFLeet plan to power 200 fast charging locations and more than 2,000 charging stations at homes and businesses in Michigan.

Why is this important? It’s an EV charger plan in the birth place of the US auto industry. If it works there….it works….anywhere.

How will this be important? The plan includes consultations to help planning resources, expert guidance and financial incentive. Basically, they’ll hold your hand through the entire process.

Business | Consumers Energy Launches $3M Program to Add EV Charging Stations in Michigan

What’s happening? Pennsylvania is doing a deep dive on transportation funding with its 46-member Pennsylvania Transportation Revenue Options Commission, consisting of lawmakers, transportation leaders and others in the transportation industry.

Why is this important? The hype is focused on a 4.2 cent increase and then a repeal of the entire gas tax within a decade.

How will this be important? the laundry list of options is interesting: move police funding to roads, pay as you drive fees, a delivery service tax, increase vehicle registration fees, increase vehicle taxes…

Reading Eagle | Plan would raise, then replace, the gas tax to fund transportation in Pa.

What’s happening? The 2020 resurgence of Black Lives Matters and increased awareness of civil justice issues has towns and states taking actions to make things better. Dumfries Virginia is renaming a road into a historic freed slave community.

Why is this important? Local governments are digging into their histories. These council members discovered that a Dumfries is one of a handful of African-American communities in Northern Virginia prior to the Civil War. The new name, Batestown honors one of the first settlers.

How will this be important? Look at the names of local parks, buildings, roads and get ready for new names.

Inside Nova | Mine Road in Dumfries to be renamed Batestown after freed slave community

What’s happening? When the pandemic began, Kansas City, KS waived all mass transit costs.

Why is this important? The pandemic highlighted the impact of transportation costs on essential workers like grocery store cashiers. The policy question became whether that essential worker should use her limited resources for mass transit fees or to put food on the table.

How will this be important? Cities are considering continuing free mass transit, at minimum, for low income riders, veterans, students, communities hit hard by COVID.

Route Fifty | Tackling Social Inequity, Some Cities May Ditch Bus, Subway Fares