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Transportation
Transportation
Texas Coalition for Roads + COVID Supporting Argument
Texas Mobility Coalition members: small and large businesses, local chambers of commerce, truckers, commuters and local leaders
Its goals: harness private investment and public-private partnerships
What does this sound like? 2003, 2005 Trans Texas Corridor version X.2
What benefit emerges when private investment enters transportation sector in Texas? it frees transportation funding for rural and energy portions of the state
Supports say that COVID means Texas has less transportation revenue and now is not a time to limit funding options for transportation as Texas grows.
Midland Reporter-Telegram | New coalition created to address road needs
COVID New Kid: Campervan short term rental platform
Who: Indie Campers
The benefit of launching now? Surge in driving vacations due to COVID
In addition to providing a platform for camper van owners to offer their vehicles for short term rentals, what other services will Indie Campers offer?
- Campervan will have its own camera fleet available
- 1200 campervans in over 40 locations over 17+ countries
Lonely Planet | This new service wants to help you rent out your campervan
How a City Limits RV Parking
The City: Longmont Colorado
How is Longmont proposing to limit RV parking? Prohibiting parking on most public streets
Why limit RV parking? RVs are being abandoned and leaking hazardous substances
What notification will be given to locals? 6 months notice to Longmont residents who may need to find alternative parking
Will the City help residents find parking? Yes, the city will provide alternative parking
9News | Council favors new rules to keep RVs from parking on Longmont streets
Anatomy of a Plan by EV companies to rid a city of Scooters
Where is this happening? Delhi, India
How does Delhi’s policy push scooters out of Delhi?
- Limits incentives to vehicles that can go 40 mph or faster
- Excludes lithium battery vehicles from receiving incentives
Mapping Tesla Vehicle ShowRoom and Sales Expansion
Tesla has a goal to deliver 2x as many vehicles in the last half of 2020.
Electrek traces Tesla retail expansion to the following markets:
- Tucson, Arizona: Tesla currently has a service location in the Old Pueblo, but it is now looking to hire sales advisors to expand its retail presence.
- El Paso, Texas: same situation as Tucson – Tesla has a service center, but it now plans to open a gallery in The Sun City.
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin: after a service center, Tesla is now looking to open a gallery in the Cream City.
- Smithtown, New York: Tesla has been gradually expanding east on Long Island and now it is looking to open a store in Smithtown, according to a new job listing.
- Laval, Québec it closed its original Quebec location when a Montreal location opened. The Laval location will be re-opened as a showroom and service center.
- Ottawa, Ontario is adding a showroom to a service center
- Global expansion include China, France, Singapore
Electrek | Tesla is working on massive sales presence expansion with new markets
COVID Pivot. Delivery Services > Ride Share
Uber’s delivery service adjusted net revenue exceeds that of its ride share service.
Does that mean the ride share program disappears? No, the two exist to support each division such as in times like a global pandemic.
Tech Crunch | Uber’s delivery business is now larger than ride-hailing
Lyft Adapts. 5 Options on its Platform including rentals.
Lyft has adde car rentals to its platform.
The Lyft app now offers: bikes, scooters, rideshare, transit, & car rentals
The partnership that brought car rentals to Lyft: Sixt
What does ride share bring to the car rental industry: demand algorithms & consumer-engagement expertise
What does Sixt bring: a fleet, fleet management to facilitate scaling
Why is this important in more ways than ride share, car rentals, & their respective regulation and taxation? Because it represents the future: a front facing industry based on data, algorithms, and customer engagement (new business) with a traditional business (old business) like car rentals. That partnership will be cloned repetitively in the new normal.
Auto Rental News | What the Lyft-Sixt Deal Could Mean to Car Rental and Mobility
TX Attorney General Opinion. Mask Requirements on Public Transportation.
The Texas Attorney General Opinion this week opens the door open for a transit authority to require masks for health and safety reasons.
The opinion goes to far as to say a transit authority may remove riders who can medically wear a mask and do not.
Land = The Challenge for High Speed Rail
If funding & ridership isn’t the challenge to high speed rail, what is? Land
What specifically is the land challenge? No designated right of way
All well and good, let’s look at examples?
- California saw costs double to acquire right of way in San Joaquin Valley
- Texas, home to privately built high speed rail, is seeing challenges in acquiring right of way in 2 ways:
- legal battles and the use of eminent domain
- the use of eminent domain for “gain of private interests”
- Florida, the private investors behind the brightline line, are not acquiring right of way but rather are negotiating with Florida Department of Transportation and the Central Florida Expressway Authority to lease right of way access
- California to Las Vegas, private investment managed by Virgin Group, will run along the I-15 median and has leased right of way access from the California Department of Transportation
What to know. Want a successful path to privately building high speed rail? Follow in Virgin’s footsteps in FL & CA and lease from the state your right of way access
Governing | High-Speed Rail’s True Barrier Isn’t Money. It’s Space.
COVID. How peer to peer rental cars are adapting.
Car sized masks. That’s how you adapt when you are a peer to peer rental car company, like Turo, operating in the new normal.
Masks are available to Turo hosts.
How else has Turo adapted to the new normal? New cleaning protocols and contactless drop-off
The Drive | Turo Is Handing Out Giant Masks for Your Car, and Yes, It Can Still Breathe Just Fine
Ride Share Innovation: Back End Software as a Transit Procurement
The Pivot, a podcast about businesses pivoting, Surprise! Has a fascinating bit about the use of Uber’s back end software as a valuable tool for transit entities.
New York Magazine The Pivot Podcast | 125 Facebook’s Cultural Crisis
Anatomy of a Local Ballot Measure to Increase Ride Share Fees
Where: Berkeley, CA
The final ballot proposition approved for November 2020?
- Rides starting in Berkeley will have a 50 cent fee per private trip
- Pooled trips will be levied a 25 cents fee per pooled trip
- Ride-share vehicles that are wheelchair accessible are exempt
The tax/fee will be paid by the service users & the TNC will be responsible for remitting the fees to the city.
Was the fee part of a bigger transportation plan? yes, a sustainable transportation road map
Daily Cal | Berkeley City Council approves ballot measure that could tax Uber users
+1 City Increases airport fees for ride share
The city: Houston
What will the new fee be? $3 at IAH and $2.75 at Hobby
The revenue estimates? $11.8 million in fiscal year 2020-21 + just under $60 million over the next five years
Is there a revenue source that is not COVID related that is being filled? Yes, in 2018, 897 taxicab operators failed to pay permit fees, leaving $983,000 uncollected
Community Impact | Uber and Lyft users in Houston to see higher fees for airport rides
COVID response. Pull back on ride share regulations.
Where: California
What: California Air Resources Board had proposed that ride share move to 80% of EV vehicles by 2030
Why the change of course to lower the 80%? Acknowledging the COVID effect on ride share, the required EV levels for ride share were lowered to 60%
How does an EV requirement for ride share help clean air? Data shows that ride share has higher emissions than the driving it replaces because of wait times
Have ride share companies taken on EV themselves? Yes, Lyft has called for all EVs by 2030
KQED | California Dials Back Plan to Require Uber, Lyft Go Electric
Wired | California’s Air Pollution Cops Are Eyeing Uber and Lyft
Self Driving Cars to Race in Indianapolis
What self driving car race? The Indy Autonomous Challenge on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October 2021
The top prize: $1.5 million
Barrons | Self-Driving Cars Will Race in Indianapolis. Tesla Can’t Take Part.
COVID Supply Chain Benefits to Port of Houston
Who is touting the economic benefits to the Port of Houston due to COVID trade wars? commercial real estate firm CBRE
What benefits do they see Houston, and Texas, offering?
- “Houston is a prime trading location, with the ability to efficiently reach all directions on the globe,”
- “Significant logistics capacity”
- Available land
- Lower asking rents
- Growing population
- Lower costs for truck and rail transportation costs than from the East and West Coast
Houston Chronicle | Houston may benefit as supply chains shift due to COVID, trade wars
Railway Age | FreightWaves SONAR: California Gov. Urged to Reverse Ports’ Receding Market Share
COVID Partnership. Rideshare + Contact Tracing
Who: Uber
What is Uber’s contact tracing partnership? Quietly offering, free of charge, local health authorities information of riders or drives who have been in contact with a COVID infected person
How are the numbers of this contact tracing shaping up?
- 560 coronavirus-related requests from public health departments
- covering 29 countries
- Most requests are processed within 2 hours
Reuters | Uber offers COVID-19 contact tracing help amid chaotic U.S. response
Meet A High Speed Rail Ally
Who: Sunrise Movement, sunrisemovement.org
Where can I find the Sunrise Movement? On twitter & instagram @sunrisemvmt + its You Tube Channel
What is the Sunrise Movement’s mission? “We’re building an army of young people to create millions of good jobs and stop climate change in the process.“
How does this fit with high speed rail? High Speed Rail identifies as a transportation solution to address climate change. See the tweet.
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State EV Project. Full Steam Ahead. $8.5 Million + 1200 miles
Where: Florida
What do I need to know about Florida’s new EV charger rollout?
- Announced in July
- New fast electric charging stations along Interstates 75, 4, and 95
- The state is funding it with $8.5Million from the VW settlement
- Will cover more than 1200 miles
- Will increase accessibility to public fast chargers by more than 50%
- Includes an EV super chargers at every service plaza on Florida’s toll turnpike
- Projecting 4.5 million electric vehicles on Florida roads by 2030
Ways to Locally Regulate Smart Street Lights
Where: San Diego
What are smart street lights? street lights with high-tech sensors equipped with cameras, microphones, and other technology
What ordinances is San Diego proposing to regulate smart street lights?
- Regulate the use of smart light data
- Data collected includes raw data and images related to pedestrian and vehicle movements, parking availability, temperature, and humidity
- Create a “privacy advisory commission” of technical experts and community members to review surveillance proposals + provide advice and assistance
What are the policy goals of the regulations?
- protect the safety of our communities
- protect the civil liberties of our communities
New Kid on the Block. New Grocery Delivery.
The New Kid: Uber Grocery
Where is Uber Grocery being launched? Latin America and Canada
Coming Soon to: the US
What’s the policy issue that we’re seeing the US? Delivery fee caps during pandemics
Anatomy of a Smart Port Project
The Port: The Port of New Orleans
The goals of the Smart Port project at the Port of New Orleans:
- using technology to make dredging and operations decisions
How will the Port’s partnership with the Water Institute of the Gulf work?
- the research organization will install data sensors on tugboats and other vessels navigating the Port of New Orleans’ district
- they will detect sediment levels in shallow parts of the Mississippi River
- that data will then inform dredging decisions
How else will technology help the smart port?
- connect dock terminals, shipping lines, warehouses, and cargo operators
- create a unified command at the New Orleans Port
Houston Chronicle | ‘Smart port’ technology planned for Port of New Orleans
COVID Local Transportation Fund Proposal
Where: Seattle
What is the new proposed funding mechanism for local transit? “Seattle Transportation Benefit District”
How would the district accrue revenue?
- 0.1% sales tax
- estimated revenue of $20-$30 million dedicated to transportation
How will the proposal consider COVID issues?
- Identifying ways to have safe public transportation
- How to provide safe, efficient, and frequent transportation options for essential workers fighting against this global pandemic
KOMO News | Durkan proposes new $30 million replacement fund for Seattle transit
Local Trend. Cap on Restaurant Delivery Fees.
Where: St. Louis, MO
The proposed cap on restaurant delivery fees:
- cap on combined fees and commissions
- cap set at no more than 20% of the total purchase price of an online order
Is there a time limit on the cap? yes, the cap will only be applied during a declared pandemic and 60 days thereafter
Ride Share Partnership for Rider Safety
Who is partnering with whom to promote ride share rider safety? Uber & Lyft are partnering with The #WhatsMyName Foundation’s
How many colleges and universities are participating in the public awareness campaign? 100+
What are some elements of the safety campaign?
- promote ride share safety tips at popular pick-up locations
- in-person education sessions for both students and campus officials
- rideshare best practices
- reviewing in-app safety features before the ride
- asking the driver “what’s my name” to confirm it is the correct ride
- matching the make, model and license plate of the car
- sharing trip details with friends or family
Intelligent Transport | Uber and Lyft partner with foundation to promote rideshare safety
Anatomy of a EV Coalition
Where is the coalition located? The UK
What non-profit is leading the coalition’s creation? The international non-profit The Climate Group
What’s the coalition’s name? UK Electric Fleets Coalition
Who are members of the UK Electric Fleets Coalition?
- 77 members of the coalition
- Including major companies such as BT, ENGIE and the Natwest Group
What is the coalition calling for?
- switching over their collective 4.5 million vehicle stock to zero emissions by 2030
- Asking for government policies to have other similar companies commit to zero emissions
- Asking the government to stimulate EV supply to meet business demand
- Asking the government to extend grants for EVs
- Asking the government to invest in new EV infrastructure
Air Quality News | Government should accelerate EV policies, say major businesses
New Kid on the Block: Motor Cycle Sharing
Where is this start up? Austin TX
What is the start up name? Riders Share, a peer-to-peer motorcycle rental platform that aims to bring underutilized bikes to the people
Funding: raised $2 million in Series A funding, led by LiveOak Venture Partners
Foreseeable expansion to its motorcycle sharing: off-road vehicles + motorcycle tours into the platform
Built in ATX | Riders Share Raises $2M to Drive Growth in Motorcycle Rental Platform
Business TREND. Subscription based EV
The subscription based EV company : Canoo
What makes Canoo vehicles unique?
- first vehicle approved by the DOT and NHTSA to have a purely steer-by-wire steering system
- no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steering rack
- your phone is doing the work of showing your speed, state of charge, etc
Roadshow by CNET | Jay Leno dives into the world of subscription-based EV company Canoo
New Study on EV Chargers
Who conducted the study: Ohio Department of Transportation
Key recommendations for EV chargers in Ohio:
- A charging station every 50 miles of interstate, state, and U.S. route corridors
- State agency collaboration is crucial for these agencies:
- Ohio Department Of Transportation
- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources
- Development Services Agency
- Department of Public Safety
- Department of Administrative Services
- Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
- Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission
Which agency is administering a grant program?
- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- $3.5 million in grant funds to install publicly accessible “Level 2” chargers in counties that Ohio EPA has identified as eligible
What is said of traditional auto manufacturers? “Legacy companies are pivoting to new ways of doing business and startups are entering the market.”
The Study: Drive.Ohio.Gov
Mahoning Matters | Ohio finalizes study for providing EV charging stations
COVID Local Road Changes
How are cities changing the use and purpose of local roads in a COVID state?
- closing streets for more pedestrians
- closing streets/parking lots so restaurants can expand outdoor dining
Examples of local programs:
- Los Angeles Slow Streets L.A. + Al Fresco
- Kansas City, MO Open Streets KC
- Tampa Lift Up Local Economic Recovery Plan
Governing | Cities Open Streets and Redefine Their Purpose and Focus
1st U.S. Electric Trucking Regulations
Where: California
The regulatory entity: California Air Resources Control Board
When do the new rules being? Phase in begins in 2024, with full implementation in 2035 which will require most new trucks in California to be zero-emission
Which trucking vehicles fall under the new rules?
- big rigs
- delivery vans
- large pickups over 8,500 pounds
States in line to adopt similar rules:
- Connecticut
- New Jersey
- New York
The numbers:
- 59,000 ton reduction in smog-forming nitrogen oxide by 2040
- $9 billion in health benefits
- 17 million tons of carbon dioxide eliminated by 2040
- $6 billion in savings for users of zero emission trucks
San Francisco Chronicle via Governing | California Enacts Nation’s First Electric Truck Requirements
1st U.S. EV Dealership Network
What’s the name of the new, and only, U.S. based EV dealership network? Jolta
What types of EVs will be in the dealership umbrella? e-cars, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-motorcycles
What other features will Jolta dealerships include?
- curation of EVs
- onsite charging stations
- charging solutions
- charging installation services
Why did Jolta form? To offer proper retail representation for EVs
Jolta LLC | Jolta, The World’s First EV Dealership Network, Will Launch In Miami This Fall
New Industry Partnership: Global EV Technology Competition
Who is involved with the Global EV Technology Competition? Kia, Hyundai, LG Chem, & New Energy Nexus
What is the Competition looking to reward? 10 startups creating electric-vehicle and battery technologies like battery construction and management, charging, business models, and EV components
Deadline to apply for the competition: August 28
Car & Driver | Kia, Hyundai, and LG Chem Launch Global EV Technology Competition
EV Charger Mapping
Who is adding EV chargers to its map feature? Apple
Will the mapping feature take into account range anxiety? Yes, by taking into account your current charge, elevation, and whether to automatically add charging stops along their route
Tech Crunch | Apple Maps gets electric vehicle routing to find EV chargers
Local, State & Federal Autonomous Vehicle Initiative
The stakeholders: NHTSA, Beep, Cruise, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Local Motors, Navya, Nuro, Toyota, Uber & Waymo.
The goal of the initiative: Create a formal platform for federal, state and local government to coordinate and share standardized information
Transport Topics | Democratic Senators Raise Cybersecurity Concerns About Autonomous Vehicles
U.S. Department of Transportation | Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies
NHTSA | (AV TEST) Initiative
COVID Status of California High Speed Rail
We know the cost estimates continue to rise, besides COVID, what else happened this year to impact California’s high speed rail project? The California Assembly adopted a resolution to delay the contract.
What happened this week? The Board of the High Speed Rail Authority, for the first time, did not approve the 2020 business plan
The cost estimate for the California High Speed Rail system? $80 billion
What did the Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee say?
- “I have personally lost all confidence in this group to develop and deliver what they promise,”
- “From inconsistent cost estimates to impossible program schedules, they provide fictional ridership expectations and exaggerated benefits.”
COVID+ Privately Funded High Speed Rail + COVID Funding
Which COVID funds is Texas Central Rail seeking? Infrastructure stimulus funding via the Department of Transportation
What does the financing of this high speed rail look like post-COVID?
- Private equity
- Funding from Japan
- Stimulus Funding
Total estimated cost: $30 billion
PJ Media | Texas’ ‘Privately Funded’ Bullet Train Project Seeks Taxpayer Dollars
KTRH | Losing Steam: Texas Bullet Train Project Seeks Federal Help
COVID Leading to Incentives for E-Bikes
The State: Connecticut
What incentives is Connecticut considering for e-bikes?
- e-bike rebate from $200 to $500
What other state has e-bike incentives? Vermont
How does Vermont’s e-bike incentives work?
- a $200 rebate to customers
- if they purchase e-bikes from local bike shops
Have other e-bike incentives opened up in Vermont? Yes, Green Mountain Energy offers a $300 incentive for e-bike purchasing
Do other e-bike incentive program exist? yes, at Austin Energy in Austin, TX & a program in California
Energy News | In New England, declining car sales prompt call for electric bike rebates
Local COVID TREND. Hazard Pay for Delivery Drivers
Where: Seattle, Washington
How will hazard pay work?
- DRIVERS get an extra $2.50 per order
- FOR THE DURATION of the Covid-19 civil emergency as declared by Seattle’s mayor
What are the reasons for hazard pay?
- Covers the risks of working during a pandemic
- Helps cover the cost of preventative safety measures and equipment
Quartz | Hazard pay for gig workers is a choice—but in Seattle it’s about to become law
Ride Share Company Vows 100% EV
Which ride share company? Lyft
When will Lyft hit 100% Electric Vehicles? 2030
Who is Lyft partnering with to make 100% EV happen?
- automakers
- rental car companies
- millions of independent contractors
What is the Lyft President and Co-Founder saying?
- “Now more than ever, we need to work together to create cleaner, healthier, and more equitable communities. Success breeds success, and if we do this right, it creates a path for others.”
What are watchers saying? The move comes at a time when research data shows ride share rides have a greater impact on the environment than other forms of transportation
The Verge | Lyft vows ‘100 percent’ of its vehicles will be electric by 2030
State’s Port to Support Largest OffShore Wind Energy
The State: New Jersey
What is a Turbine Port? New Jersey’s turbine port will be the 1st U.S. port dedicated to constructing the colossal turbines
What are the economic numbers behind the turbine port?
- $300-400 Million Green Infrastructure Project
- Create Up to 1,500 jobs
- $500 Million in Economic Activity
- New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) development
- Financing options will be public, private, and public-private partnership (P3)
EV Charging + Essential State Infrastructure Bill
The State: Florida
How did Florida Legislature build EV Charging Infrastructure into its Essential State Infrastructure bill?
- Establishing a timeline for the EV Infrastructure Plan
- Dec. 1, 2020 status report due
- July 1, 2021 final plan must be submitted
- Developed by State Transportation & Energy Agency Officials
- Requires EV Charging staging areas in rural communities along Florida’s turnpikes
- Supported by need for EV charging along hurricane evacuation routes
Fresh take Florida via Governing | New Law Would Develop EV Charging Network in Florida
Texas Attorney General Opinion. Are over the road buses subject to Texas’ axle limitations?
The question answered by the Texas Attorney General Opinion: Whether over-the-road buses traveling on interstate highways in Texas are subject to the tandem axle weight limitations established in Transportation Code ?
The answer: Yes they are subject to the tandem axle weight limitations . We don’t care if there is a federal exemption & the feds aren’t stopping us.
COVID adaptation by a Gig Economy Company
Which company: Alto
What is Alto? A Dallas based personalized ride share company that manages its own fleet of 65 vehicles
How did Alto adapt more quickly? By owning its own fleet, it quickly installed plexiglass shields, ensures sanitizing of its vehicles, and installs a security camera in each vehicle. + Alto did a quick conversion into a delivery service out of pure necessity.
How is Alto adapting to an economy that exalts companies that do right by their employees? Alto provides a salary, benefits, and sick leave to its approximately 130 drivers. Alto also provides masks, gloves, sanitation training, & temperature checks before each shift.
When will Alto expand? By August/September 2020 expansion to Houston & expansion to California by end of 2020.
Dallas Morning News | Unlike Lyft and Uber, Dallas-based Alto was built for a global pandemic
Port of Houston Adds EV. the numbers.
- 18 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions reduced per year
- 100% asset-based renewable electricity contract
- 0 emissions from the EVs with on-site charging from renewable sources
- $400/ year savings per car
- $72,438 grant from Houston-Galveston Area Council for emissions reduction incentives
Port Technology | Port Houston purchases electric vehicles in eco-friendly initiative
TX Attorney General Opinion. County Bond Election to Improve City Roads?
Yes, Sterling County may call a bond election to cover the cost of improvement of Sterling municipal roads if:
- Sterling’s municipal government gives consent
- the city streets are an integral part of or a connecting link to a county road or a state highway
This question has been subject of court opinions for decades, so what statutory authority is relied upon? Texas Constitution article III, section 52(b) or (c)
COVID Meets Public Transportation in Philadelphia
How will public transportation in Philadelphia be different after COVID?
- imposing rider limits
- marking off seats for social distancing
- requiring passengers to wear facial coverings
- leaving its roof hatches aboard buses open for better airflow
- replacing cloth seats for easier cleaning
What other options may be forth coming:
- three-day passes geared toward workers without a standard 9-to-5 schedule
- unlimited free transfers to encourage alternate routes
- make Regional Rail more accessible
Philadelphia Inquirer via Governing | Philadelphia Transit Will Look Different Post-Coronavirus
+1 State Miles Driven Fee in Lieu of Gas Tax
Where: Wyoming
What tweaks to a miles driven vehicle fee are being considered?
- Lower fees for miles driven on highways because that causes less wear
Landline | Wyoming transportation panel looks at road use charge
Business TREND. Automatic Vehicles Move to Software Subscription Model.
Who: Tesla
What: Tesla’s last earnings call included information about its move to subscription pricing for its full self-driving package
What are financial analysts saying? Tesla is the only company that is ” fully monetizing its autonomous driving assets at scale“
The concern for financial analysts: REGULATION of the transportation subscription service
Electric | Tesla going into software subscription service could become big business
Statewide Ride Share Tax Reform
Where: Georgia
What does Georgia want to replace the sales tax on ride share with? A flat 50 cent per ride fee
The legislation: HB 105 (2020 | GA) (Article 8)
How did ride share start paying sales tax in Georgia? Via a market place facilitator bill. Making the 8.9% tax on ride shares in Atlanta, Georgia one of the highest in the U.S.
Would ride share fee revenue be dedicated? Yes, the fee revenue would be dedicated to public transportation funding
Lege TREND. Tort Reform for Auto Insurance.
Where: Lousiana
What: SB 418 (2020 | LA)
How does Lousiana’s SB 418 offer tort reform and lower auto insurance rates?
- caps damages
- limits when insurance companies can be sued directly
The reduction in insurance rates that is estimated after 1 year? 10%
Insurance Journal | Louisiana Legislature Passes Auto Accident ‘Tort Reform’ Bill
Cost Comparison. EVs v. Gas Vehicle
Car & Driver compared EV and gas models of 2 vehicles.
The annual gasoline cost:
- Mini Hardtop: $3744
- Hyundai Kona: $3861
The annual EV charging cost:
- Mini Electric: $1939.00
- Kona Electric: $1722.63
Based on these 2 car models, annual cost is lower for gas models before tax credits are considered.
COVID Relief Funds for Rail
How can rail benefit from COVID Relief funding?
- investment tax credit to encourage railcar orders
- funds for capital projects addressing signal crossings and track and grade maintenance
- grants to state and localities for rail-related capital projects
- maintaining the capital investment program for passenger rail projects under the purview of the Federal Transit Administration
- funds to modernize its information technology capabilities
- ensuring freight railroad workers get priority for access to testing, personal protective equipment
Freight Waves | Rail industry groups eye pandemic relief/capital investment funding
6 State Investments in Electrification
Where: New Jersey
Who is behind the electrification push? New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition
What are 6 examples of New Jersey’s investments into electrification:
- NJ joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative which provides funding based on a carbon dioxide allowance auction
- Invest $80 million each year in “programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions for:
- clean energy projects
- clean energy jobs
- electrification of the state fleet by 2050
- NJ joined a cap-and-trade program with 9 other Eastern states
- Point of sale rebates for light-duty EVs
- State agencies coordination of efforts to electrify the transportation sector
- $4 million in rebates to offset the cost of installation of EV charging stations
ACT News | New Jersey Makes Significant Commitments to Transportation Electrification
Local TREND. Tax Trade Off to Fund Public Transportation. COVID Angle
Where: Cincinnati
How will its public transportation system get a funding boost?
- voter approved .8% sales tax increase
- .3% rollback of the city’s 2.1% earnings tax
What public transportation gaps does Cincinnati look to fill?
- Public transportation options for health care workers
- Public transportation options for manufacturing workers
The COVID Angle: Need to connect frontline and essential workers to accessible and reliable public transportation
Smart Cities | Cincinnati voters raise sales tax to fund public transit
COVID. 6 Reasons to Anticipate a Resurgence of E-Bikes & Scooters
- Positioned to capitalize on the need for social distancing
- Cities want traffic levels to be lower & need to makeup for lower public transportation numbers due to social distancing
- Companies have rigorous disinfecting routines
- Cities like Seattle, Oakland, & Austin are shutting down roads to traffic which bolsters the use of scooters & e-bikes
- Cities like Montreal, Paris, & Milan have built temporary bicycle and pedestrian facilities as part of their coronavirus response
- Pandemic data shows riders are taking longer trips on e-bikes and scooters
Car Manufacturers + EV Charging = Manufacturer Offered Insurance Coverage for Charging
Who: Mercedes Benz
What will be covered under the insurance policy:
- Home-charging equipment, cables, and batteries
- Up to € 10,000 ($10,900) risk coverage related to theft, vandalism, “overvoltage damage,” short circuits, and even bites from animals and rodents
- Towing to the nearest charging station if the battery is unintentionally discharged
- Theft and vandalism of the Wallbox & the charging cable up to € 2,500
Electrek | Mercedes-Benz introduces EV insurance coverage to include charging stations
New Local COVID Rules for Food Delivery
Where: Chicago
What are the new rules for food delivery in Chicago?
- new transparency requirements to disclose fees
- including any commission or service fee paid by the restaurant to the third-party delivery company
- daily fine of $500 to $10,000 for violations
Why? Consumers want to maximize how much goes to the local restaurant over the delivery service
Other considerations by Chicago Council? Capping delivery fees like San Francisco did by Emergency Order
Crain’s Chicago Business | City has new rules on food delivery apps
Proposed AV Delivery Rules
Where: California
What stage is California in for AV delivery? Pilot Program + California Public Utility Commission Order for Comments
Which issues are percolating?
- pooling services
- environmental- are the AVs also EVs?
- Geographic equality for all neighborhoods in a city
- Safety requirements
- Fee structures
- Data Sharing
Who is submitting comments?
- Companies: AAA; Aurora Innovation; Cruise; Lyft, Inc.; Uber Advanced Technologies Center, LLC.; Waymo; and Zoox.
- Trade associations: Bay Area Council; California Chamber of Commerce; Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, San Francisco; San Francisco Council of District Merchants Association; San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance; Silicon Valley Leadership Group; and TechNet.
- Advocacy groups: California Council of the Blind; Greenlining Institute; Sierra Club; and Mothers Against Drunk Driving
- Researchers: UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy (Policy Institute)
- Local Governmental Entities: Los Angeles Department of Transportation; San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency; and San Francisco County Transportation Authority
CPUC | ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE’S RULING ORDERING PARTIES TO COMMENT ON QUESTIONS REGARDING THE COMMISSION’S REGULATION OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
StreetsBlogCAL | California Readying Rules for Automated Vehicle Ride-Hailing
5 COVID changes coming to an airport near you
What changes are coming to airports in the new, COVID normal?
- thermal temperature screenings
- sanitation stations
- touchless kiosks
- UV light/sanitation spray stations to disinfect passengers
- autonomous cleaning robots equipped with virus-killing ultraviolet light, applying antimicrobial coatings
- touch-free health screening kiosk that take passenger respiration and pulse rates & can deny boarding
Los Angeles Times via Governing | Airport Tech Will Now Screen for Coronavirus Symptoms
Scooter Rider Growth in a COVID World
2Ways scooter companies are seeing growth in the new, COVID world:
- Gotcha Mobility, Charleston, S.C. Pilot Program for scooter delivery of groceries and take away. 25% increase
- Spin, Portland, OR, local incentives, $0.20-$0.25 fee cut, in exchange for 1/2 ride fee cut by Spin to increase ridership
San Antonio Express News via Governing | Scooter Companies Lose Momentum During Coronavirus
COVID & Scooter Rides By the Numbers.
Where: San Antonio, Texas
How did scooter ride numbers differ after COVID?
- March 2019 240,000 scooter rides
- March 2020 50,000 scooter rides
COVID opportunities for scooters?
- “and the companies left standing will have a technology that the cities actually want. “
- When we come out of this, people will be leery of just loading into buses, trains and planes, and we will still want something other than cars.”
- Sanitation requirements on the horizon- either by companies or by local governments
- Local Government Official: “focus should be on providing support and reducing their expenses”
San Antonio Express News via Governing | Scooter Companies Lose Momentum During Coronavirus
COVID: Local Governments Closing Streets
Where: Seattle
How many miles of street are being closed to public traffic? 20 miles
What’s the name of the project? Stay Healthy Streets
Why is Seattle closing streets in response to COVID?
- more space for people to walk and bike at a safe distance apart
- in collaboration with automating street lights, limit the the need to touch traffic lights to cross streets safely
- aligns with how residents use the streets
Who can continue to use the “closed” streets?
- residents
- delivery drivers
- garbage & recycling workers
- emergency response vehicles
Seattle Times | Seattle Will Keep Some Streets Closed Even After Coronavirus
COVID Impact: Smart City Contract
What smart city project? Toronto’s proposed sustainable community, Quayside project, a bid won by Sidewalk Labs, an Alphabet Company
What smart city transportation features would the project include?
- sensor-based traffic signals
- dynamic curbs
- underground delivery routes for trucks
- self-financing light rail transit
- heated pavement
- pneumatic waste collection
The laundry list of contract issues:
- Project is controversial from land acquisition to data privacy
- COVID-19’s toll on global economies and real estate markets
- The local development organization will continue with the project
Government Technology | Alphabet Calls It Quits on Toronto’s Smart Future
Wired | Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs Scraps Its Ambitious Toronto Project
Limit Airline Funding to Service Away from High Speed Rail
Where: France
What: France has added conditions to AirFrance’s COVID relief funds
What limits are being placed on AirFrance’s COVID funds?
- If high speed rail services the area within 2 hours 30 minutes, AirFrance has to stop flights
Why?
- To make AirFrance profitable
- To benefit from the lower cost of CO2 by train
- To encourage the airline to reach a target of using 2% of its fuel from sustainable sources by 2025
What’s the big picture: Other jurisdictions have COVID relief funds to allocate and conditionally allocate
International Railway Journal | Air France ordered to curb competition with rail in France
Bonjour MOOVIT. Data + Transportation.
Who is Moovit? a startup applying AI + big data analytics to track traffic and offer transit recommendations
Who is buying Moovit? Intel “at a price believed to be in the region of $1 billion.”
What are the implications for autonomous vehicles? reliable, real-time traffic data and intelligent routing is a challenging & crucial element of AVs
What’s the big picture? This is building on Intel’s autonomous vehicle work
Ride Share Business TREND. Requiring Masks + More
Who: Uber
Who will be required to use masks/face coverings: Riders and Drivers
How will it be implemented? Technology will detect if drivers are wearing masks/face coverings before the driver goes online & starts accepting trips
How are masks currently being provided to drivers? By the company when drivers are providing rides to essential workers
What are other ride share companies, and Uber, also considering?
- that drivers should disinfect vehicles after each rider is dropped off
- plastic barriers or divisions in vehicles to protect both drivers and passengers
CNN | Uber will soon require drivers and riders to wear face coverings in the US
EV TREND, Charging While Driving
Who: Kuka Robotics, an Apple patent, and others
What: peer-to-peer EV charging while driving via telescopic charging booms
The data from testing:
- 65% reduction in EV halts
- up to 24.4% reduction in required battery capacity
Electrek | Peer-to-peer highway EV charging would use telescoping cables between moving cars
COVID + EV Batteries
5 Ways COVID has impacted EV battery manufacturing:
- Production Delays
- Delayed Opening of a Tesla battery manufacturing facility in Berlin
- Automakers are forming partnerships with battery suppliers
- Automakers are making large investments in battery manufacturing
- Automakers are expanding in-house research
Electrek | Pandemic threatens EV battery supply, giving power to South Korean battery-makers
Business TREND. Pharmaceutical Transportation.
Who: SkyCell
What does SkyCell do? builds hardware and operates a logistics network designed to transport pharmaceuticals
How does this transportation differ?
- utilizes “smart containers”
- powered by software to maintain constant conditions for drugs
- regulates strict temperatures & humidity levels
- controls levels of vibration
- greater monitoring of location
TechCrunch | SkyCell raises $62M for smart containers and analytics to transport pharmaceuticals
State Electrification Funding.
The State: New Jersey
Which agencies came together to fund state electrification?
- Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative’s
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Funding Source: VW Settlement Funds
How will funding be allocated?
- $37 million to projects that convert dilapidated diesel trucks, buses, port equipment, marine vessels, and trains to electric power
- The remaining monies to be used for EV charging equipment throughout the State.
Cole Schotz | New Jersey Firms Up Funding For Electrification Of Transportation Sector
Local TREND. COVID testing for all ride share and taxi drivers
Where: Los Angeles
Who is getting free COVID testing in LA? Essential Workers
How has LA defined essential/critical workers?
- First responders
- Critical government personnel
- Health care professionals
- Grocery workers
- Commercial, rideshare, and public transit drivers
Last | LA Expands Free Coronavirus Testing To Taxi, Public Transit And Rideshare Drivers
Regulatory Impact to Ride Share post-COVID
What new regulatory requirements are coming up for ride share? Sanitizing
What businesses are trending: sanitization methods for shared autos technologies are varied from UV light cleaning to utilizing the car’s HVAC system
Just Auto | COVID-10 will force rethink of shared vehicle hygiene
How COVID is impacting Transportation Funding
Where: Wisconsin
What transportation funding mechanism has been hit hardest? The gas tax with revenue estimated decline of $100 million
Add COVID to this list of limitations on a gas tax for a reliable revenue source:
- fuel efficiency decreases gas tax revenues
- EVs use no gas and pay no gas tax
Anatomy of an EV Recycling Program + Waste Management Partnership
Where: EU
Who: Honda Europe
How does Honda Europe propose to recycle EV batteries?
- partnership with waste management company Société Nouvelle d’Affinage des Métaux
- assess the traceability of end-of-life batteries
- analyze batteries for what are known as “second-life” uses
- will take in lithium-ion and nickel metal hydride batteries from Honda dealers and authorized treatment facilities
Other companies that have announced EV reuse and recycling programs? Volkswagen and Nissan
Auto Blog | Honda Europe reveals how it will recycle EV and hybrid batteries
Blockchain bolsters EV Supply Chain
Who is using blockchain to support the EV supply chain? BMW & Tesla
How does blockchain support the EV supply chain?
- BMW’s Partchain utilizes blockchain technology in its logistics operations
- In its front light supply, BMW achieves end-to-end transparency and traceability, from the mine to the factory
- Tesla blockchain pilot focuses on improved sea waybill information
- Tesla auto parts were able to be released faster
- Tesla accelerated the cargo pick up with the one-stop, zero-latency and zero-touch blockchain
Forbes | How Tesla And BMW Are Leading A Supply Chain Renaissance With Blockchain
COVID Response. Increased Daytime Transportation Construction.
Where: California
Who: Contra Costa, Calif., Transportation Authority
What: Moved nighttime construction to daytime as traffic decreased during COVID isolation
What are the benefits to daytime construction:
- accelerates construction timelines
- contractors closer to the finish line so they can accept more work, especially stimulus funded transportation projects
Governing | Special Districts Adjust to New Realities During the Crisis
COVID Regulatory Response: Cut Car Insurance Rates
Which state regulator: California Insurance Commissioner
The California Insurance Commissioner Order: Bulletin 2020-3
Why cut car insurance rates?
- projected loss exposures of many insurance policies have become overstated or misclassified.
- rates are calculated on miles driven, and miles are not being driven
Are other insurance lines also having rates cut in the order? Yes:
- Private passenger automobile insurance
- Commercial automobile insurance
- Workers’ compensation insurance
- Commercial multiple peril insurance
- Commercial liability insurance
- Medical malpractice insurance
- Any other line of coverage where the measures of risk have become substantiallyoverstated as a result of the pandemic
What information will carriers need to report to the regulator?
- Percentage of refund applied
- Aggregate premium prior to, and subject to, application of refund
- Aggregate premium refund
- Average premium before and after refund
- Average percentage of refund, applied to each policyholder
- Number of in-force policies
- Number of policyholders receiving refund
COVID + Texas High Speed Rail = Reasons to Deny Project
What: Dozens to Texas lawmakers wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation asking that Texas Central Rail stop moving forward
What reasons did the lawmakers give?
- COVID: Texas Central Rail slayed off staff
- LAND: Texas Central Rail has not acquired the necessary land
- PROJECT FUNDING: Texas Central Rail does not have secured funding for the project
- GOVERNMENT INEFFICIENCY. It would be an inexcusable waste of taxpayer dollars and jeopardize the integrity of the rules making process at the Federal Railroad Administration to proceed
3 Ways Local Governments are adding EVs to Right of Ways. Partnership OPPORTUNITIES!
Sacramento, CA:
- EV chargers at parking spaces at local parks
- EV chargers near busy freeways
- EV chargers at a popular weekend farmers market
- Partnership with EVGo for a 10-year license to own and operate the infrastructure
Los Angeles, CA:
- attach EV charging ports to streetlights and utility poles
- Bureau of Street Lighting has installed 340 + 80 to be installed on streetlights
- Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has installed 45 on power poles
- The City operates BlueLA, a low-income EV car-share program, 180 charge points at 35 stations for 100 cars
Berkeley, CA:
- Curbside Residential Pilot Charging Program to assist homeowners without a driveway or garage
Why use public right of way?
- the land is owned by the local government already
- send a clear message of support for EV
- shows that the infrastructure is available
Government Technology | California Cities Install EV Chargers as Symbol of Future
COVID: Street Cameras used to measure social distancing
Where are cameras being used to measure social distancing:
- Times Square in New York
- Miami Beach
- Abbey Road in London
- Ruthven Museums Building at University of Michigan
- Jersey Shore at Seaside Heights
- + more
Who made this pivot? A Michigan based startup, Voxel51
How is this possible? Street cams are public, which allows the data to be pulled
Are people being identified? NO
The future regulatory/legislative issue: Will public street cameras permit the data to be used for other purposes? Will governments use that data? Could governments ticket if social distancing isn’t followed?
Governing | Company Uses Public Street Cams to Measure Social Distancing
Public Transportation + COVID = Ride Share Opportuities
Where: Miami Dade
How is Miami paying ride share when it stopped overnight public transportation?
- bus passengers to obtain vouchers
- value up to $45 for personal rides
- limited number of routes running overnight
Lege TREND. Out of state boating fee increases
Where: Utah
How did Utah increase out of state boating fees? a $20 fee for non-Utah resident boaters who launch watercraft in any of the state’s bodies of water
What does the fee increase support? eradication of aquatic invasive species
Is there an economic cost of aquatic invasive species? Yes, Idaho in 2009 estimated:
- zebra mussels cost power companies $3.1 billion between 1993 and 1999 in the Great Lakes region alone
- total economic costs exceeded $5 billion
KSL | New out-of-state boating fees and 10 other signed bills related to Utah’s outdoors
Business TREND: Portable EV Charging
Who: BLINK
What is the charging capacity of the mobile charger?
- supports 240-volt AC charging
- up to 9.6kW of charge
- 1 mile range per 1 minute of charging
Yahoo Finance | Blink Charging Unveils First to Market Portable Emergency Electric Vehicle Charger
COVID impact on airline industry. The numbers:
Pre-COVID daily passenger average: 2.2 million
Passenger averages after COVID: 108, 310
COVID + Ballot Measure for Gig Economy
In California, signatures are being submitted for a ballot measure to defeat AB 5 that defined gig economy workers as employees and not independent contractors.
Supporters of the Ballot initiative: Protect App-Based Drivers & Services, funded by Uber, Lyft and DoorDash
Supporter messaging with COVID:
“The recent pandemic has highlighted just how important app-based services and drivers are – delivering food, medicine and supplies to those who are stuck at home, driving seniors and others to medical appointments, and helping workers who perform essential services get to their jobs,”
Sacramento Bee | ANTI-AB 5 BALLOT MEASURE SIGNATURES GET TURNED IN
Scooter Rental Companies become Scooter Sellers post-COVID?
A potential Post-COVID market for scooter rental companies is scooter sales as consumers may seek to avoid germs by buying scooters in lieu of renting scooters.
COVID pivots by e-bike & scooter companies
Bird & Lime: Layoffs, cost cutting
Wheels: Launched self cleaning handle bars & brake levers on their e-bikes
How does an e-bike self clean? By utilizing light that uses mineral nano-crystals to create an oxidation reaction that is stronger than bleach
Revel: Free rentals for healthcare workers in New York
Tech Crunch | The Station: Bird and Lime layoffs, pivots in a COVID-19 era and a $2.2 trillion deal
COVID Business TREND. Auto Manufacturers Pivot.
The pivot for auto manufacturers: manufacturing ventilators
How are auto manufacturers pivoting?
- GM is partnering with Ventec Life Systems to help increase production of respiratory care products such as ventilators
- Ford says it is working with the US and UK governments
- Tesla is in talks with Medtronic
Tech Crunch | Ford, GM, Tesla given the ‘go ahead’ to produce ventilators, Trump says
Anatomy of Hyperloop Legislation
Where: Missouri
How far as the legislation moved? Through the Missouri House
What will HB 1963 (2020 | MO) do?
- Define Hyperloops so that they receive P3 funding
- This puts hyper loops on the same funding plane as light rail and ports
The catalyst for the HB 1963? Missouri is in the top 10 of Virgin Hyperloop’s list of places it’s looking to build a 15-mile hyper loop test track
Missourinet | Missouri House passes bill aimed at transporting people in tubes
New Way to Expand EV Use: Local Try Before You Buy Programs
Who: Drive Electric
What is the Try Before You Buy program for EVs? In the UK, it allows businesses and public sector organisations to try an EV car or Truck for 30 days
Is the program limited to 1 manufacturer? No, it includes Hyundai Kona, the Kia E-Niro, Renault Kangoo and Nissan e-NV200.
Electrive | DriveElectric tests ‘try before you buy’ EV scheme
New Delivery Partnership.
Who: The City of New York’s Taxi & Limousine Commission & out of work delivery drivers
What are they delivering? Meals as food pantries shutter
Additional State funding eyed? yes, an additional $25 million in emergency funding for food
Politico | As food pantries shutter, city partners with out-of-work drivers for home-delivered meals
Moving Public Transit Funding to Ride Share
Who: Congress
What: House Administration took action to move toward funding commuting costs, including for staff to take Uber and Lyft rides to and from work, citing risks associated with the spread of coronavirus.
Roll Call | House funds allowed for Uber and Lyft as virus spurs transit cuts
Are rental car taxes appropriate for peer-to-peer car sharing?
Who is taking an opinion on this? The Tax Foundation
What does the Tax Foundation think about applying rental car tax structures to peer to peer car sharing platforms? Nope, not the way to go
What tax structure should be applied to peer to peer car sharing? ” policymakers should consider ways for localities to replace the revenue they rely on from rental car excise taxes.” (the rental car tax unfairly burdens out of state visitors)
What did the Georgia State Legislature do to tax peer to peer car sharing? HB 378 (2020 | GA) applies the municipal rental car excise tax to peer to peer car sharing apps
Gig Economy Drivers: An Exception to Shelter in Place
Where: San Francisco
What’s the exception for gig economy workers ? Groceries and pharmacies are still open and delivering goods is within the exception to the shelter in place order
Is this triggering another policy issue? Yes, the enforcement and full enactment of AB 5 which classifies gig economy workers as employees
Gig Workers Rising | California Policymakers Must Protect Gig Workers During Coronavirus Health Crisis
Tech Crunch | San Francisco’s shelter-in-place order does not apply to gig workers
Ride Share Companies Suspend Shared Rides During COVID19
What COVID 19 measures has Uber taken?
- Suspended Uber pool rides in US & Canada
- Added an in app message “Flatten the Curve” reminding riders to “travel only if necessary,” and to “exercise caution for your safety and the safety of our community.”
- Ubereats has suspended delivery fees
- Ubereats has added an option to have food left at the doorstep
- Offering financial assistance to drivers
Tech Crunch | Uber and Lyft suspend shared ride options to limit coronavirus spread
TX Attorney General Opinion. Registration for 3 Wheel Vehicles?
Who is asking for the TX Attorney General to answer a question? State Representative Tracy King
What is the question to be answered? Does TX DMV have authority to register and title three-wheeled, low speed, electric vehicles are eligible for registration and titling by DMV, so that businesses, consumers and tourism interests may utilize these vehicles?
What’s been happening in other states? Other states have relied on Federal Register definition of motorcycle to register and title 3 wheel vehicles as motorcycles.
EV Owners. Who are they? The Data is Changing.
Who is the stereotypical EV owner out there in the ethos?
- Gen X
- married
- college educated
- driving Teslas
What the numbers are saying:
- Yes, Gen X leads followed by Millenials
- Boomers are not driving the economics
- There is a shift from leasing to buying EVs
- Tesla still has the highest number of vehicles on the road, but the numbers only began rising in 2018, the market is young
Fintech & the Auto Industry. Areas of regulation, legislation and legal quandries.
2 Ways fintech and the auto industry intersect:
- in car payments
- Shell mobile payment service, Fill Up& Go mobile payment system, in the UK involves partnerships with major Fintech players like Apple Pay, Android Pay, and PayPal
- Mastercard and General Motors partnership
- IBM, Jaguar and Shell partnership
- Chevrolet and Shell partnership
- online car purchases
- auto and fintech partner to lower costs and speed up transactions
Fismes | Fintech-Powered Innovation In The Automotive Industry- The Latest Trends
Coalition of a Gas Tax Increase
Where? Kentucky
Who is in the coalition supporting a gas tax increase? The Kentucky Infrastructure Coalition
- manufacturers
- farmers
- engineers
- local leaders
- 40,000+ transportation workers
The legislation: HB 580 (2020 | KY)
The tax increase:
- 9-cent-per-gallon
- + higher fees on license plates & vehicle registrations
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