Comments on: Rethinking the “Use Tax” in Transportation http://redmondsearch.com/blog/rethinking-user-tax/ matching candidate + culture Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:04:38 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: uberVU - social comments http://redmondsearch.com/blog/rethinking-user-tax/#comment-94 uberVU - social comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:33:32 +0000 http://redmondsearch.com/blog/?p=100#comment-94 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by sgollish: redmondsearch RT @redmondsearch What are your thoughts on use-based funding for transportation infrastructure? http://twurl.nl/ks8plt... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by sgollish: redmondsearch

RT @redmondsearch What are your thoughts on use-based funding for transportation infrastructure? http://twurl.nl/ks8plt...

]]> By: Tweets that mention The Future of the "User Tax" in Transportation Funding | redmondsearch.com -- Topsy.com http://redmondsearch.com/blog/rethinking-user-tax/#comment-93 Tweets that mention The Future of the "User Tax" in Transportation Funding | redmondsearch.com -- Topsy.com Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:27:20 +0000 http://redmondsearch.com/blog/?p=100#comment-93 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Josie Summa, Mike Anderson. Mike Anderson said: RT @redmondsearch Blogged It: What are your thoughts on use-based funding options for transportation infrastructure? http://twurl.nl/ks8plt [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Josie Summa, Mike Anderson. Mike Anderson said: RT @redmondsearch Blogged It: What are your thoughts on use-based funding options for transportation infrastructure? http://twurl.nl/ks8plt [...]

]]> By: Doug Rubin http://redmondsearch.com/blog/rethinking-user-tax/#comment-90 Doug Rubin Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:00:45 +0000 http://redmondsearch.com/blog/?p=100#comment-90 There are several dimensions to the conundrum we face as a society that goes something like this: 1) our infrastructure is inadequate and/or falling apart; and 2) we lack the funding, or more precisely the political will to utilize available funding mechanisms, to pay for their improvement. . While I am not a politician, I have the chance to elect them in a week . . . And this problem is NOT an engineering problem because the construction and design professionals certainly know how to build/repair roads and bridges and even railroad tracks And this problem is generally NOT a problem of economics (except for "high-speed" rail, which a competely separate issue), because in almost every case the value that transportation provides to the user or freight owner is much higher than the direct and indirect expenses that the user is asked to pay. This is supported by, setting aside the general economic activity, there is continuing high demand for transportation services regardless of fuel prices, truck driver availability, tolls or delays/congestion on various roads. In other words, transportation demand is highly inelastic and will bear higher prices. . But this problem IS POLITICAL isn't that different than what we are facing in health care. The United States had a very productive economy following WWII and become quite prosperous. We gradually grew accustomed to having and consuming many benefits and privileges - such as being able to drive "for free" from New Jersey to Oregon. But as many readers of this blog know, the capital cost of infrastructure is only 25~35% of its lifecycle costs and that life is not unlimited. So, as a society, we are confronted with the challenge of having to pay for something that many of us think we should be getting for free, or at least for a very low cost. . Ouch. Yep, the bill has come due. The only question is, what are we going to do about it? Lots of challenges; lots of opportunities. . Moffatt & Nichol writes a quarterly newsletter on high-level issues affecting the development and financing of infrastructure, mostly around ports and terminals, but also affecting highways and railroads. Contact me if you want to know more about what we do. There are several dimensions to the conundrum we face as a society that goes something like this:
1) our infrastructure is inadequate and/or falling apart; and
2) we lack the funding, or more precisely the political will to utilize available funding mechanisms, to pay for their improvement.
.
While I am not a politician, I have the chance to elect them in a week . . .
And this problem is NOT an engineering problem because the construction and design professionals certainly know how to build/repair roads and bridges and even railroad tracks
And this problem is generally NOT a problem of economics (except for “high-speed” rail, which a competely separate issue), because in almost every case the value that transportation provides to the user or freight owner is much higher than the direct and indirect expenses that the user is asked to pay. This is supported by, setting aside the general economic activity, there is continuing high demand for transportation services regardless of fuel prices, truck driver availability, tolls or delays/congestion on various roads. In other words, transportation demand is highly inelastic and will bear higher prices.
.
But this problem IS POLITICAL isn’t that different than what we are facing in health care. The United States had a very productive economy following WWII and become quite prosperous. We gradually grew accustomed to having and consuming many benefits and privileges – such as being able to drive “for free” from New Jersey to Oregon. But as many readers of this blog know, the capital cost of infrastructure is only 25~35% of its lifecycle costs and that life is not unlimited. So, as a society, we are confronted with the challenge of having to pay for something that many of us think we should be getting for free, or at least for a very low cost.
.
Ouch. Yep, the bill has come due. The only question is, what are we going to do about it? Lots of challenges; lots of opportunities.
.
Moffatt & Nichol writes a quarterly newsletter on high-level issues affecting the development and financing of infrastructure, mostly around ports and terminals, but also affecting highways and railroads. Contact me if you want to know more about what we do.

]]> By: Brian Fenters http://redmondsearch.com/blog/rethinking-user-tax/#comment-60 Brian Fenters Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:24:26 +0000 http://redmondsearch.com/blog/?p=100#comment-60 David- You are right in that some States take the fuel tax money and put it into a slush fund to be used however, but many States (like PA) and the Federal portion of the fueul tax go directly to the DOT's for their road and bridge needs. The company I work for does some DOT projects, and they are very competitive to get. Low bidder gets work. States right now, example CA, are bragging about how much money they are saving due to the competitive atmoshpere of heavy highway contracting. I just returned from a confrence with the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), and funding of bridge and road repairs was a hot topic. They know we will have some serious issues with our infrastructure in the near future if we do not invest in them. But what I realized was their focus is on working directly with the politicians to justify the need for funding. I think the American people need convienced there is a need first and that it is only fair that they contribute to the roads and bridges they use everyday. Once they are convienced, I believe one of two things will happen: 1-the people will pressure the politicians to fund our roads and 2- the politicians will not fear passing funding since the people want it. Josie- I don't think tolls is the best way for funding, because; it slows traffic, funding to the local roads will be limitied, and tolling adds more CO2 emissions. Private companies could still run sections of our interstates, but they could be compensated by other methods. As with ARTBA, I think the "how to fund" is putting the cart before the horse, we need to convience the people "why to fund" first. Just like any fund raiser, the first step is to get the people to believe in the cause first, and then ask for how they would like to pay at the end. David-
You are right in that some States take the fuel tax money and put it into a slush fund to be used however, but many States (like PA) and the Federal portion of the fueul tax go directly to the DOT’s for their road and bridge needs.

The company I work for does some DOT projects, and they are very competitive to get. Low bidder gets work. States right now, example CA, are bragging about how much money they are saving due to the competitive atmoshpere of heavy highway contracting.

I just returned from a confrence with the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), and funding of bridge and road repairs was a hot topic. They know we will have some serious issues with our infrastructure in the near future if we do not invest in them. But what I realized was their focus is on working directly with the politicians to justify the need for funding. I think the American people need convienced there is a need first and that it is only fair that they contribute to the roads and bridges they use everyday. Once they are convienced, I believe one of two things will happen: 1-the people will pressure the politicians to fund our roads and 2- the politicians will not fear passing funding since the people want it.

Josie-
I don’t think tolls is the best way for funding, because; it slows traffic, funding to the local roads will be limitied, and tolling adds more CO2 emissions. Private companies could still run sections of our interstates, but they could be compensated by other methods. As with ARTBA, I think the “how to fund” is putting the cart before the horse, we need to convience the people “why to fund” first. Just like any fund raiser, the first step is to get the people to believe in the cause first, and then ask for how they would like to pay at the end.

]]> By: David Locke http://redmondsearch.com/blog/rethinking-user-tax/#comment-43 David Locke Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:28:01 +0000 http://redmondsearch.com/blog/?p=100#comment-43 Why do we need a new tax? Why do we need toll roads? Saying the money isn't there misses the point, because the money is there, but it is going to things less important that building roads and educating our kids. Why do we need a new tax? Why do we need toll roads? Saying the money isn’t there misses the point, because the money is there, but it is going to things less important that building roads and educating our kids.

]]>