Called a 'sustainability fee' by Mayor Lee Harris of Shelby County, the proposed fee would apply only to households that have three or more registered vehicles, about 17 percent of county residents. The first two vehicles would be exempt.
Mayor Lee Harris of Shelby County, the second most populous in Tennessee, may be on to something—a progressive user fee, of sorts, to benefit the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA). Unlike most local transportation measures in California and much of the United States, the latest being the Bay Area's mega measure proposed for the November 2020 ballot, Harris wants to tackle both sides of the transportation problem.
"You want to have your problem and solution match," Harris told Smart Cities Dive, reports Katie Pyzyk. Harris continues:
"The solution here is to get those who probably contribute to traffic congestion to contribute to the solution... The folks who are probably doing their fair share of getting around and creating emissions and traffic congestion, let's try to get them to help the folks who can't around at all right now."
As a user fee, the $145 annual sustainability fee bears similarity to ride-hailing fees, congestion pricing, particularly cordon pricing plans like the one in the works for Manhattan, and the 'car tab' included in the Seattle area's 2016 transit mega measure. By restricting the fee to the "third and additional" vehicles, the flat fee (unlike the car tab which is based on the vehicle's assessed value) becomes less regressive and adds to the equity that comes with using the revenue to improve transit.
"The proposal will have a big impact on transit," states the mayor's Sept. 4 news flash. "A dedicated investment of at least $10 million has an economic impact of more than $40 million as a result of expanded job access and reduced car crashes."
“This landmark plan will dramatically change the trajectory of funding for public transit in this community,” says Gary Rosenfeld, CEO of MATA.
Indeed, according to Harris' "Future for Transit" [pdf] proposal, it would be the third-largest source of revenue for MATA after contributions from Memphis and federal funding. It would mean that the $9 million from multi-car households would fund the transit system more than transit patrons do with their fares.
According to the mayor's office, the sustainability fee would positively impact the environment, the state's economy, and people's lives.
The investment would have a big impact on our shared environment. It would increase ridership by at least one million rides, therefore reducing emissions by thousands of metric tons.
This plan would have a big impact on poverty. There are 15,000 available jobs in Shelby County. More frequency helps people get a job and keep a job.
"The Shelby County Commission is expected to vote on the measure by late February, following a public hearing and comment period," adds Pyzyk.
"It's a pretty innovative approach... Obviously, there's going to be some negative reaction to an additional fee," [Harris] said. But he said the public likely will come around if they "hear more of the story, that it doesn't really apply to most people and it's a way to generate resources for something that can benefit the public at large without a general tax increase."
Related in Planetizen:
- A 'Memphis 3.0' Vision for Transit Taking Shape, October 4, 2017
-
Memphis Planning for a Big Expansion of Transit Service, August 31, 2017
FULL STORY: Shelby County, TN proposes vehicle ownership fee to fund transit
Madison Common Council Narrowly Approves Unpopular $40 Wheel Tax
Despite major opposition by residents, the Madison Common Council approved a $40 motor vehicle registration fee (aka 'wheel tax') on an 11-8 vote on Oct. 29 to help fund the city's new East-West Bus Rapid Transit system.
Memphis Vehicle Fee Would Help Fund Transit
The proposed fee on households with multiple vehicles would generate $9 million to improve the region’s transit system.
Memphis Planning for a Big Expansion of Transit Service
The city of Memphis is ready to expand its transit system, spending $30 million a year in annual operating cost to add 200,000 service hours to the Memphis Area Transit Authority system.
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Conservatives’ Decongestion Pricing Flip-Flop
When it comes to solving traffic problems, the current federal administration is on track for failure, waste, and hypocrisy.
San Francisco Turns On California’s First Speed Cameras
The city is the first in the state to use automated traffic enforcement to reduce speeding and traffic deaths.
Shaping LA’s Future: Public Voting Opens for LA2050 Grants
The LA2050 Grants Challenge invites Angelenos to vote on the top issues facing Los Angeles, helping direct $3 million in funding to organizations working to build a more connected and resilient region.
Chicago Transit Agencies on Brink of Major Crisis
Without additional funding, regional transit agencies will be forced to cut services by 40 percent.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Florida Atlantic University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Piedmont, CA
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland