This is one of those days when it feels like things are changing fast. Here are two stories that caught my attention:
1) A panel organized by Congress—the melodically-named National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission—just called for higher federal gas taxes. In fact, they recommend a 40-cent per gallon hike.
It sounds like the tax would go mainly to repair and maintain current road infrastructure rather than road expansion. The panel also recommended a bevy of other fees, including tolling, congestion pricing, weight fees, and so on. And they recommended big investments in transit and other alternatives too. (Via Erica at Slog.)
2) Meanwhile, British Columbia continues to lead. Not only is the province considering a carbon tax, but the provincial government just released a $14 billion dollar transit plan. That’s $14 billion just for transit.
andrew
Yes, here in BC, it’s $14 billion, but there are lots of caveats. Only $11 billion is new spending and the Province (who proposed the deal) will only put in $4.75 billion. The Federal government (who under a conservative leadership has no interest in funding *any* transit) is supposed to kick in over $3 billion.But, more importantly, the transit projects won’t start until 2014 *after* the major road projects have been completed. Conveniently, if there is an economic downturn between now and then, the not yet started transit projects would be cut first.While I am extremely happy that the premier found his green spine (last year during his throne speech to be precise), he has yet to do anything concrete like stop building new roads, or deal with off-shore drilling, or start to regulate salmon farming. I hope that he is sincere.A summary of what other BC-ers have said can be found here.
dave
If communities such as Vancouver insist on continued growth, then increasing subsidies to mass transit will be necessary and are the responsible thing to do. Just one more cost of growth that fails to show up on the negative side of the balance sheet when economists tally all that wonderful economic activity growth provides. In fact, it is probably tallied as a plus because of the construction business it generates.Dave GardnerProducer/DirectorHooked on Growth: Our Misguided Quest for Prosperitywww.growthbusters.com
charliew
Another $0.50 of gas tax might help pay off our Iraq debt… looks like a user fee to me.
jackson place seattle
sarkozy in france has said no money to roads. trains and transit. looks like we may have to start hating the french again…