Transportation Legislation

Aerial view of the San Francisco Bay with Hayward Bridge and Foster City in San Mateo County, California.

Converting a Freeway Lane to a Toll Lane: No Easy Task!

The San Mateo County Transportation Authority wants to extend its new express toll lanes north to the San Francisco border. The two build options are widening Highway 101 or converting an existing lane in each direction. One is essentially illegal.

November 1, 2023 - San Mateo Daily Journal

Two bridges over Puget sound, Tacoma washington

Washington Governor Delays Progress on Mileage Fee, Again

For the second time in two years, Gov. Jay Inslee has dealt a legislative setback to transportation planning efforts to prepare for the 2035 ban on the sale of gas-tax paying light duty motor vehicles to reduce carbon emissions.

July 10, 2023 - The Seattle Times

cars

Massachusetts Legislators Fear Hidden Gas Tax in Transportation and Climate Initiative

Gov. Charlie Baker (R) supports a multi-state proposal to mitigate tailpipe emissions that would increase gas prices and pay for transit projects in an $18 billion transportation bond. A bill has been introduced to ensure that doesn't happen.

January 6, 2020 - The Boston Herald

Scooter Share

Op-Ed: In New York, Make Legalization of Micromobility a Priority

The state needs to pass legislation to legalize electric bikes and scooters to give residents more mobility options and discourage driving.

June 17, 2019 - Crain's New York Business

Bill Would Make California's Urban State HIghways Safer for Non-Motorists

Sen. Scott Wiener introduced legislation to make state highways that run through villages, town, and cities, often acting as main streets, accommodate the safety needs of walkers, cyclists, and transit users when undergoing capital improvements.

January 19, 2019 - Streetsblog California

The Villages, Florida

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles Welcomed in San Diego County—But a Plan is Needed

Neighborhood electric vehicles may become more popular in California's second most populous county thanks to legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. The small zero-emission vehicles are prohibited from crossing streets with speed limits above 35 mph.

September 26, 2018 - KPBS

Carpool Lane Sticker

220,000 EV Drivers in California to Lose Carpool Lane Perk in 2019

The good news: the Clean Air Vehicle program for electric vehicles will be extended for at least three years. The bad news: not all EVs that have a decal now will be able to be renewed. Congestion on HOV and HOT lanes is a major concern.

September 21, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Transit Oriented Development

Transit-Area Tax Increment Financing Bill on Gov. Jerry Brown's Desk

Transit, affordable housing, TODs, active transportation and local governments should all come out ahead should Brown sign SB 961. The bill follows in the path of earlier legislation that created enhanced infrastructure finance districts.

September 7, 2018 - Move LA

Scooter Share

More Rights, Fewer Responsibilities, for Electric Scooter Riders in California

A bill that would toss the helmet requirement for adult e- scooter riders and allow them to ride on roads where the speed limit is 35 mph, up from the current limit of 25 mph, is on Governor Jerry Brown's desk. He has until Sept. 30 to decide.

September 4, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Olympia, Washington

Washington State Passes a Package of Transportation Bills

Importantly, the Washington State Legislature also left a few bills on the cutting room floor.

March 16, 2018 - The Urbanist

Car Traffic

Bill Introduced to Allow California Cities to Pursue Congestion Pricing

Four cities could charge tolls for drivers to enter congested parts of their cities if an assembly bill introduced by Richard Bloom last month becomes law.

March 14, 2018 - San Francisco Examiner

Vermont SUV

New Hampshire Bills Target Vehicles That Don't Guzzle Enough Fuel

Two bills target hybrid and electric vehicles and even fuel efficient vehicles with new registration fees to increase road funding, as nine states did last year. However, many of those states also hiked gas taxes in the same legislation.

January 5, 2018 - New Hampshire Public Radio

Caltrain

Three Bay Area Counties May Decide Whether to Support Caltrain with Sales Tax Measure

The oldest commuter rail line west of the Mississippi is also unique in another way—it lacks a dedicated source of operating revenue. Legislation has been introduced to allow Peninsula counties to vote to increase sales taxes by 0.125 percent.

June 26, 2017 - The Daily Journal

I-70 Tunnel

Transportation Sales Tax Advances in Colorado Legislature

A bill to ask voters in November to increase the state sales tax by 0.62 percent to fund transportation projects passed its first House committee March 22 on a partisan vote, with Democrats in support and Republican opposed.

March 24, 2017 - The Colorado Independent

Cities Embracing Complete Streets Policies

States and local governments across the U.S. are adopting strong complete streets policies, reports the National Complete Streets Coalition. The new report rates written policies on the strength of their inclusion of a list of policies.

April 27, 2011 - Switchboard Blog

Transportation Bill Could Face Months-Long Delay

The federal transportation bill seems unlikely to pass any time soon, according to legislators. They have yet to reach any consensus about the mechanisms for funding the bill.

July 25, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

Guiding the Next Federal Transportation Spending Bill

Legislation is being introduced in Congress to guide the course of the next five years of federal transportation spending, focusing on reducing per capita vehicle miles traveled and decreasing truck freight shipping.

May 15, 2009 - The Washington Post

Holistic Transportation Planning

This piece from Bloomberg architecture critic James Russell calls for a unified approach to building the nation's transportation infrastructure.

January 25, 2009 - Bloomberg

Oregon Goes Big in Transportation Funding Requests

In Oregon, transportation officials are set to vote on an ambitious list of transportation projects that they hope will garner funding when Congress allocates transportation money this year.

January 22, 2009 - The Oregonian

Experts Offer Advice on the Next Transportation Bill

National Journal Magazine has asked it's team of political insiders/bloggers to give their thoughts on how the next federal transportation bill should be written.

December 8, 2008 - National Journal

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