Mollie Cohen D'Agostino’s Post

An opportunity to reshape transportation policies will arise in 2025, influenced by the new administration, congressional retirements, and expiring laws. Congress must reauthorize the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act by September 30, 2025, which funds infrastructure projects for five years. The previous act allocated over $500 billion, but challenges loom, particularly with the Highway Trust Fund, expected to be depleted by 2028. Solutions like increasing gas taxes or implementing vehicle miles traveled fees encounter significant political resistance. Congress has reauthorized the Federal Aviation Administration through fiscal year 2028, setting the stage for other aviation policies. A change in administration could affect pending consumer protection regulations and the outcome of legal challenges against airline mergers, which focus on industry competition. A Trump presidency may roll back some protections, while a Harris presidency might reinforce them. The Environmental Protection Agency has introduced emissions rules targeting a transition to zero-emission vehicles by 2027, with future presidential leadership impacting their implementation. The composition of key congressional committees responsible for transportation policy may change, regardless of election outcomes, impacting legislative focus. Both parties acknowledge the need for increased transportation infrastructure investment but differ in priorities, complicating bipartisan efforts. The 2024 elections will significantly influence the transportation agenda and policy landscape as the new administration sets its direction. #MotiveAsia #All Countries https://lnkd.in/gMfSUkPw

"If legislators don’t reach a funding solution in the spring 2025 session, the region's public transit operating agencies will need to immediately start the budget process for 2026 including a 20% cut to their operating budget, which would result in cuts to up to 40% of service. Cuts of this magnitude require a full Title VI process and analysis. All the efforts of the planners within the Service Boards—who are right now planning the expansion of Pace Pulse, the implementation of CTA’s Better Streets for Buses plan, and the transition to regional rail at Metra, and other popular initiatives—would have to stop so they could transition to planning for service cuts and fare increases." https://lnkd.in/gntntdCs

The Illinois General Assembly adjourned this year’s spring legislative session after passing an overall $53 billion budget for State Fiscal Year 2025 and an accompanying revenue package with some transit-specific initiatives. Learn more about this legislative update in our blog: https://lnkd.in/gAUmvtFX #urbanplanning #publictransit #transportation #legislation #chicago

✅What Do Americans Think About Federal Tax Options to Support Transportation? ➖The questions test public opinions about raising the federal gas tax rate, replacing the federal gas tax with a new mileage fee, and imposing a mileage fee just on commercial travel. In addition to asking directly about support for these tax options, the survey collected data on respondents’ views on the quality of their local transportation system, their priorities for federal transportation spending, their knowledge about gas taxes, their views on privacy and equity matters related to mileage fees, travel behavior, and sociodemographic characteristics. Key findings include that large majorities supported transportation improvements across modes and wanted to see the federal government work towards making the transportation system well maintained, safe, and equitable, as well as to reduce the system’s impact on climate change. Findings related to gas taxes include that only 2% of respondents knew that the federal gas tax rate had not been raised in more than 20 years, and 74% of respondents supported increasing the federal gas tax by 10 cents per gallon if the revenue would be dedicated to maintenance. With respect to mileage fees, several options tested received support from more than half of respondents. Also, the majority of respondents supported variable mileage fee rate structure options; 62% preferred charging low-income drivers a reduced mileage fee rate, and 52% preferred charging electric vehicles at a lower rate than gas and diesel vehicles. The analysis of trends across the survey series, which has run annually from 2010 to 2024, shows that support for both higher gas taxes and a hypothetical new mileage fee has risen slowly but steadily. https://lnkd.in/dQBPXBkW ...

Per the quote from the article below, it sounds like these respondents should be reading my #forbes posts as I have been writing about this for years, and I agree that revenue tweaks are needed for our roads to get the maintenance they need, including having #ev owners pay a mileage or other fee in lieu of the gas tax… “…only 2% of respondents knew that the federal gas tax rate has not been raised in more than 20 years and that 74% supported increasing the federal gas tax by 10 cents per gallon if the revenue would be dedicated to maintenance of streets and highways.” #transportation #infrastructure #taxes #muniland

Take a look at this 2 minute brief regarding future road maintenance revenue and how we must find alternatives to the current tax generation method

The annual transportation funding show. It is clear that a growing transportation system contending with inflation will have shortfalls in light of sinking revenue, especially from the gas tax because of more fuel efficient cars and nobody daring to touch this sacred cow. That is foolish and won’t work. The revenue has to be increased and the gas tax is still the most obvious place where to do it.

The impending need for states to replace their gas taxes is a great opportunity to think about how to create a "safe, secure, reliable, and efficient transportation system" (which should be noted, could not be further than the system we have now). Glad to see MA tackling this issue head-on, and hope that the Healey administration embraces road pricing as part of its strategy: https://lnkd.in/eRZWAAYW

Two years after the Federal Transit Administration issued a scathing report on the leadership and safety of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Boston region’s transit agency highlighted service and ridership improvements in an October strategic plan update.   The MBTA this month completed track work on its Orange Line, ending nearly 15 years of speed restrictions on the route and is close to finishing work that will end all speed restrictions on the Red Line. Average weekday ridership across all modes on the system grew 5.6% from June 2023 to June 2024.   But the agency faces a nearly $700 million budget gap in its fiscal year 2026 operating budget as remaining federal pandemic relief funds dry up and revenue from a dedicated one-cent portion of the state’s sales tax hasn’t met expectations. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Federal Transit Administration MBTA is facing the same issues as other transit systems Cost to move to greener fuel Ridership that has not fully recovered from COVID19 including the return to office objectives by many organizations. Lack of optimization of routes Revisiting the taxing model that  includes high density housing near transit. Consolidation of transit systems across urban areas Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) TransLink Vivek Ramaswamy        https://lnkd.in/gYYvHfCG       Global Transit Analysis and Commentary – October 2024 – Technology - https://lnkd.in/gbsuUDAw   Global Transit Analysis and Commentary – October 2024 - https://lnkd.in/gNKbRuJw  

Truck Parking and Rail Safety Top Priorities as Congress Finalizes 2025 Transportation Budget 🚛🅿️🛤️ As Congress returns to Washington this fall, their top priority is finalizing critical transportation funding bills for fiscal 2025. These bills aim to address the nation’s infrastructure needs, focusing on road repairs, safety upgrades, and transportation modernization. In addition to highways, funding will be allocated to improve trucking safety, increase parking availability for truckers, and enhance air traffic and rail systems. With a December deadline looming to avoid a government shutdown, bipartisan cooperation will be essential in moving these funding measures forward, ensuring the continued operation and improvement of key transportation systems. These decisions will shape the future of U.S. transportation, impacting everything from safety regulations to job creation in the infrastructure sector. 1. Key Budget Allocations: • $964.5 million for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to boost trucking safety measures and operations. • $63.1 billion for highways to maintain and improve U.S. infrastructure. • $22 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). •     $17 billion for transit programs that support air and rail safety. • $200 million dedicated to expanding truck parking—a critical issue for commercial drivers, endorsed by the American Trucking Associations (ATA). 2. Additional Priorities: • The Railway Safety Act is awaiting a final push, with bipartisan backing needed to move forward. This could lead to enhanced safety protocols after several high-profile derailments. • Water infrastructure projects, supported by the Water Resources Development Act 2024, will receive billions for ports, dams, and climate resiliency initiatives. 3. Political Dynamics: • Bipartisan collaboration is crucial, especially as Congress has until December 20 to finalize these funding bills. The House and Senate differ on certain allocations, which could lead to intense negotiations. #TransportationFunding #HighwayInfrastructure #TruckingSafety #Congress2024 #SupplyChain https://lnkd.in/eF8kckvk