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.

"[I]t was clear Tuesday night that the fee was unpopular, both with constituents and the alders, reported Sara Maslar-Donar for the local ABC news affiliate, WKOW, on Oct. 29 (see news video in article).
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway made a public plea to alders Tuesday night after several hours of discussion and three failed amendments to the fee, which included lowering it to $20.
“I need your support on this,” she said. “The city needs your support on this.”
Chris Rickert, who reports on Nov. 25 (in source article) on public correspondence received by the common council released under a public records request from the Wisconsin State Journal, shows "opposition to the highest-in-the-state wheel tax was running about 10-to-1." He called the legislation the mayor's "signature initiative."
Writers opposed to the wheel tax called it regressive, said it would hurt the poor and the elderly most, questioned the need for bus rapid transit — which the fee will help fund — and generally urged leaders to tighten the city’s belt.
Voicing support for the wheel tax was Local 6000 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, RENEW Wisconsin, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Clean Wisconsin and Wisconsin Environment; and Curt Witynski, deputy director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. [In an email, the Sierra Club's John Muir chapter confirmed their support as well.]
A widespread criticism in the emails was that any additional funds should be directed toward the police, but according to Wisconsin law, revenue from a wheel tax levied by a municipality or county must be directed to "transportation-related purposes." However, the police may see increased funds as a result of the approval, reported Maslar-Donar on Oct. 29:
The fee has been on the table for a few months, and was projected to bring in almost $8 million in 2020. It would fund a variety of transportation projects in the city, which in turn would free up more than $3.5 million from property taxes. The city expects to use that money to fund general items like police and fire.
The tax takes effect Feb. 1, 2020. "Madison will join 20 other municipalities and 12 counties with wheel taxes, but Madison's will be the highest, according to WKOW.
Why no local vote?
Many municipalities charge vehicle registration fees, which often have to be approved by a local vote. Witynski of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities told the State Journal that "the League lobbies the state Legislature about retaining the ability to impose a local vehicle registration without the need to go to a referendum."
Local car tabs repealed in Washington
Washington state municipalities saw their voter-approved "car tabs" annulled on Election Day after state-wide voters approved Initiative 976 on Nov. 5. Seattle, King County, and other entities filed suit on Nov. 13, claiming the initiative is constitutional. They also sought an injunction to prevent the initiative from taking effect on Dec. 8.
Update: sustainability fee
Another type of vehicle registration fee is being considered in Shelby County, Tenn. Mayor Lee Harris proposed a less regressive "sustainability fee" in September that would only apply to the "third and additional" vehicles in multi-car households. Funds would benefit the Memphis Area Transit Authority
Last month he changed the proposal after receiving much public feedback – "only a household's third vehicle would be taxed," reported Richard Brandon for WMC Action News 5 on Oct. 9. "But he may still face an uphill climb," states Brandon in the video. The vote should go before the Shelby County Board of Commissioners in February.
- Transit Dreams Follow 'Wheel Tax' Proposal in Madison, October 15, 2019
- See three posts tagged "East-West BRT."
FULL STORY: Emails to Madison leaders reveal strong opposition to $40 wheel tax

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing
From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

In Most U.S. Cities, Archaic Laws Limit Roommate Living
Critics argue laws preventing unrelated adults from living in the same home fail to understand the modern American household.

Ten Signs of a Resurgent Downtown
In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe continues his exploration of a holistic and practical approach to post-pandemic urban center recovery, anchored in local context and community-driven initiatives that promote livability, safety, and sustainability.

California Moves to Limit Autonomous Trucks
A bill passed by the State Assembly and moving on to the Senate would require autonomous semi trucks to have a trained human operator in the vehicle.

Minnesota Budget Includes Significant Transit Investments
After a contentious debate, the state legislature passed a budget that changes how transportation projects are funded and supports increased transit service in the state.

Proposed Land Value Tax Plan in Detroit
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan proposes hiking property taxes for vacant land and buildings while lowering the rate for occupied homes and businesses in a split tax plan he contends will resolve many of Detroit's blight and high property tax woes.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
City of Charlotte - Charlotte Area Transit
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
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.