Honolulu Approves $2.79B Rail Spending Plan

A six-year, $2.79 billion construction spending plan has been approved by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) for the city’s rail project for the period from 2013 to 2018. The plan includes $1.83 billion for construction spending on the 20-mile raised guideway, and $482 million for equipment purchases. As the largest public works project in Hawaii history, the entire rail project is estimated to cost $5.27 billion.

HART officials estimate that the city has spent $342 million in federal and local funds on the rail project so far on planning, preliminary designs, environmental studies and other work. Construction on the elevated guideway, which will carry the train, is scheduled to begin in the first part of 2012.

Road Funds at Risk in Some States over Safety Rule

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – One third of the states in the U.S. are at risk of losing valuable federal funds because they may not be able to meet a Jan. 30 deadline for implementing new safety requirements for commercial truck drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued the federal mandate that would result in states losing 5 percent of their highway funds if they fail to comply by the end of this month.

Missouri, already in a dire financial state, risks losing about $30 million in federal funding unless it changes state law for its drivers license office to require interstate truck drivers to provide proof from a medical professional that they are healthy enough to drive. Missouri is not the only state in jeopardy of missing the deadline. Officials in Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and others told the Associated Press that they will not be able to fully implement the federal requirement in time.

“It’s hard enough to keep our roads in good condition, and this is going to make it more difficult,” said Missouri state Rep. Eric Burlison, a Republican who unsuccessfully tried to get Missouri up-to-date with the federal requirements.

A spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Revenue said it may take until a few months after the deadline before its computers are able to meet the requirement. “We already have the information up on our website explaining the information they’re going to need to bring in, we just don’t have a date to begin processing,” said spokesperson Jeannine Koranda.

This is bad timing on the part of FMCSA. States are already struggling with reduced revenue streams only to have a further reduction over a regulatory matter. TW

Washington Panel Recommends $20B for Transportation

A task force in Washington has recommended that the state raise $20 billion over the next decade to pay for the state’s transportation system. The governor-appointed “Connecting Washington Task Force” met over the past three months to develop a plan generate billions of dollars to pay for road, transit and ferry needs through 2022.

Gov. Chris Gregoire chaired the 27-member panel which represented sectors from state government, construction, business and transit. The panel chose to focus on maintenance and operation of existing transportation infrastructure.

The possible funding methods suggested include adding 15 to 20 cents per gallon to the state’s 37.5-cent fuel tax rate, which would raise between $3.3 billion and $4.7 billion.

Gas Prices Rise more than Double Tax Increase

Drivers in North Carolina are paying up to ten cents more per gallon of gasoline than they were a week ago, more than twice the 3.9-cent hike to the state’s gas tax that automatically took effect on January 1. The average gas price in the state is 3.28 cents a gallon, almost 30 cents higher than the same time in 2011, according to GasBuddy.com.

North Carolina House lawmakers approved a measure to cap the gas tax but the Senate chose not to consider the bill.

Gas prices are up across the nation this week as crude oil prices continue to increase. USA Today reports that gas prices could rise an additional 4.5 cents with the expiration of the 30-year-old ethanol subsidy from the federal government.

We see this all the time. Strong opposition to raising the motor fuel tax by a nickel or some other modest amount but the price at the pump fluctuates a dime on a regular basis. TW

SF Transit Officials want to Cut Car Use

SAN FRANCISCO – Transit officials in San Francisco are hoping to make public transit, walking or biking the mode of transportation for at least half of all trips over the next six years. These currently account for 38 percent of those trips, with the remainder using motorized vehicles.

The Municipal Transportation Agency set the six year goal this week, which could be accomplished by making driving more difficult, or by increasing the allure of alternate transportation modes.

“It would be quite an accomplishment if we got to 50 percent [of trips taken without a motorized vehicle],” said city transportation chief Ed Reiskin, acknowledging that the goal is an ambitious one. City officials recognize that they will need to come up with enough funding to make Muni, the local transit system, more convenient and reliable, and biking and walking safer. Work is already in progress expanding the bike lane network and installing new bike racks.

Mississippi Transportation Commission Appoints MDOT Director

JACKSON, Miss. – The state transportation commission in Mississippi has voted unanimously to appoint Melinda McGrath as Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). Since February of 2011, McGrath has served as Interim Executive Director/Chief Engineer of MDOT. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Director since August 2008.

McGrath previously served as Assistant Chief Engineer, in which she planned and administered the $1 billion Hurricane Katrina Emergency Recovery Program as well as administering the first two Design/Build contracts which were in excess of $600 million.

Melinda has long distinguished herself at MDOT so her interim appointment last February and now her permanent appointment were no surprise. Congratulations to Melinda. TW