In This Issue

	Study Shows Tollway Leasing could Cost Drivers More
	Stockholm Votes on High-Tech Plan
	Grand Expansion a Few Years Out
	State House GOP Proposes Gas Tax Halt
	2 Rail Services to Expand in Bay Area
	Metro Triggers $1.5 Billion in Development
	TxDOT Looking at Man’s Design for I-45
	Va. Considers Traffic Impact of Developments
	Study Shows High Voter Support for Transportation Measures

Study Shows Tollway Leasing could Cost Drivers More

Ill. - Leasing the Illinois Tollway to a private company may bring more money to the state, but it could cost drivers more, according to a recent study. Whether lease agreement would raise tolls for motorists depends largely on the length of the contract and how often the new owner could be allowed to raise tolls.

If a private company takes over the tollway, the deal could bring between $200 million and $14 billion to the state, depending on the details of the contract, said an investment banking firm hired by the state.

Critics say not only would the lease bring higher tolls, but communities along the tollway could be legally restricted from building any new roads that take away from tollway business. The governor and his opponent want the tollway to remain under public control.

The Chicago Skyway and the Indiana Toll Road have both already been leased to private companies.

A legislator once pointed out to me that there is only one source of money for public services and government facilities-the tax payer. “Governments cannot create wealth,” he said. Whether through a gas tax, a toll, impact fees, property taxes or any other means, the money comes from the public. Some, such as tolls, are funded by users of a specific facility. Gas tax on the other hand, can be collected from one group of citizens and used to benefit another. It is, however, a closed system. If improvements are desired, then money must be raised. One way or another, from one group or another. Leasing the tollway will bring money to the state as would a statewide gas tax. Some, or all of the taxpayers will pay more no matter what funding stream is chosen. TW

Stockholm Votes on High-Tech Plan

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – The Stockholm, Sweden government has recently concluded a one-year traffic congestion control trial implementation which will be on the general election ballot next month. Each time a car passes through one of the 23 tolling point, it is identified by a transponder, which works similarly to E-ZPass in the U.S., or by its license plate, and the registered owner is subsequently billed.

In an effort to reduce gridlock and smog, and improve the quality of life, Stockholm tested one of the most advanced traffic-management systems in the world. The system used a dynamic-pricing technique in which drivers were charged varying amounts based on the time of day. The goal of the project was for people to change their behaviors to distribute traffic more efficiently throughout the day and encourage more commuters to use public transportation. Tolls range from $2.76 during rush hour, to free between 6:30 p.m. and 6:29 a.m.

City officials and urban planners traveled from as far as Bangkok and New York to review how the implementation, conducted by IBM, the Swedish Road Administration, and the city of Stockholm, might be adapted into their own cities.

Results of the Stockholm trial showed traffic passing over the cordon decreased by 22%, crashes involving injuries dropped by 5%-10%, and exhaust emissions fell by 14% in the inner city. The city had to change its bus schedules because they were moving through the city faster.

Now that the trial has been completed, the city has scheduled a referendum next month so residents can vote on whether to continue the system. The city has promised to scrap the entire $525 million project if the referendum fails. Although a poll in June showed 52% of the voters approved the plan.

Grand Expansion a Few Years Out

PEORIA, Ariz. – Motorists in Arizona’s congested West Valley will have to be patient as the construction for one of two projects is scheduled to begin late next year. The two ADOT projects were approved after voters agreed the half-cent transportation sales tax will remain in effect for the next 20 years.

The transportation department has taken technical studies and county funding into consideration, as well as public opinion through community outreach programs for all valley transportation programs.

ADOT, who shares responsibility for the freeway systems with the Maricopa Association of Governments, said they plan to expand Grand Avenue to three lanes in each direction between 83rd and 99th Avenues and improve intersections.

“Drivers will be very happy with the changes,” said ADOT spokesman Doug Nintzel. “We listened and are following through with their requests.”

ADOT officials will be meeting with community organizations next week to address traffic patterns and concerns that are most urgent to Sun City residents. “It’s important to West Valley residents to see what is being done in the area,” said George Davis, Sun City Homeowners Association board member.

The expansion of Grand Avenue from 99th Avenue to Loop 303 are still undergoing an environmental study, but plans also include adding a third lane both ways and additional turn lanes to the intersections.

State House GOP Proposes Gas Tax Halt

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Republicans in Illinois have requested that the state hold a special legislative session to look at options to help people deal with high gasoline prices. State Rep. Bill Black of Danville believes the rising prices are taking a toll on the state’s workers.

Republicans including Black have sent a letter to House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones suggesting the state consider eliminating its portion of taxes on fuel and legislation to increase the use of ethanol.

Madigan’s spokesman says the House speaker is not likely to hold the special session called for by the GOPs.

While the Republicans say their plan would reduce gas prices by up to 28 cents per gallon, a similar moratorium on taxes in 2000 did not help motorists, according to Jones’ spokesperson.

2 Rail Services to Expand in Bay Area

OAKLAND, Calif. – Two commuter rail services in the Bay Area say they will be expanding service to California’s Central Valley and San Jose. Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor will be eliminating a bus link that takes twice as long as the train. The service plans to add three new round trips from Oakland to San Jose.

Amtrak has already spent almost 60 million on signal and track upgrades between Oakland and San Jose. Officials at Amtrak say four additional trains will also reach Sacramento each day in the near future.

After receiving financial assistance from the state, the Altamont Commuter Express will soon be adding another Stockton-to-San Jose route.

Metro Triggers $1.5 Billion in Development

PHOENIX – After spurring $1.5 billion in development in Phoenix, the Metro light-rail system is moving eastward. The system is making big progress in Tempe, bringing the first proposed rail-related project to the area and driving a fury of property deals that may direct other projects to Apache Boulevard.

“I really think everything we’re seeing along the lightrail line is exceeding our expectations,” said Bo Martinez, the program manager of transit-oriented development in Phoenix. Officials say while there are sections along the 20-mile line that are slow to develop, the hot spots are more than making up for it.

Planners call the rail-related development, such as condos and lofts above, and stores and restaurants below, transit oriented development. Phoenix has the highest number of deals along the line because it has the most track miles. Around half of the $1.5 billion in construction projects are funded by taxpayers, including the Phoenix Civic Center and an ASU campus paid for with Phoenix city bonds.

Mesa has less than a mile of light rail, and just one stop. So far they have not had any developers propose plans for development like light rail usually triggers, city authorities said.

Commuters in Phoenix and Tempe will have convenient access to new restaurants, condos, and shopping centers when the line opens in December 2008.

TxDOT Looking at Man’s Design for I-45

Tex. – A civil engineer living near I-45 in Houston has developed his own concept for expanding the freeway that would improve the quality of life in his, and the surrounding neighborhoods. Gonzalo Camacho designed what he calls the I-45 Parkway, after he heard TxDOT was looking at how to expand the North Freeway.

Camacho’s Parkway design includes two underground, double-stacked tunnels. “I wouldn’t call this a light idea. If you go onto the website you can find a lot of information. It’s probably close to a year of research. And I’m talking 24/7,” he said.

Camacho has a Masters Degree in civil engineering, with an emphasis in transportation. He says at this point, his plan just can’t be ignored.

“We are going to take a look at that and study that as one of the options that might be permissible within the confines of the space that we have and perhaps the economy that we will have as well,” said Norm Wiggington, TxDOT spokesman.

The link below shows Camacho’s concept.

http://www.camachoassociates.com/i45-beforeafter.htm

Va. Considers Traffic Impact of Developments

Virg. – Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has announced that the Virginia government plans to become increasingly involved in weighing the traffic impacts of large developments before the projects are built, in an effort to contain the uncontrolled growth in the area.

Kaine was recently criticized by developers and local officials for a traffic impact study he ordered for the building of 30,000 homes in Loudoun County west of Dulles International Airport, he plans to keep his campaign promise to the county to change how Virginia would grow. Even though multiple anti-sprawl proposals died in the recent legislative session, Kaine says he will renew his commitment to managing growth.

“It’s a dramatic change in direction,” Kaine said. “The goal is to elevate the upfront discussion in the public eye and make decisions in a much more thoughtful way upfront, rather than making land-use decisions one after the next and then waiting 15 years to see what the impact is going to be.” He said the Loudoun County traffic study is the first step for an issue he calls “every bit as important” as increasing transportation spending.

The VDOT study in Loudoun County examined the impacts of the proposed Dulles south project, an undeveloped 9,200-acre section of farmland and two-lane roads just west of the airport. Thousands of homes are slated to be built in the area by six major developers. The study was the first of its kind to analyze the development’s regional impact. Among the findings, hours of congestion was predicted on more than a dozen major roads and highways in Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prince William counties.

I was struck by the statement “uncontrolled growth.” I suppose those who approved the zoning actions and building permits would disagree with the phrase. They would say it was totally controlled-just not in the way that critics would have had it done. The same thing happens with the phrase “smart growth.” While I know how this phrase is used today (and I use it myself because it describes a new sustainable approach to development which I work on with clients) it does connote that decision-makers up to this point did nothing but “dumb growth.” I suppose some would disagree with this assertion. TW

Study Shows High Voter Support for Transportation Measures

National - Voters in 33 states have approved 70% of transportation measures on ballots, totaling more than $70 billion since 2000, according to a recent report by the Center for Transportation Excellence (CFTE). The report outlines the remarkable increase in the use of voter-approved ballot measures to produce funding for transportation projects.

CFTE studied over 200 state and local transportation-related ballot measures over the last six years, and found they were approved at twice the rate of all ballot measures.

“Few issues have consistently won the confidence and support of voters – regardless of region, community size, or party – as measures supporting public transportation,” said CFTE Advisory Board Member Art Guzzetti. “A look at the track record clearly demonstrates the willingness of voters across the nation to support expanded choice and investment with their tax dollars.”

The report also includes trends in voter-approved transportation financing. Since 2000, over 80 percent of transportation measures on the ballots have specifically authorized financing.

CFTE is watching over 40 proposed of pending ballot initiatives for 2006. The entire report and upcoming election information can be found at http://www.cfte/org.