Sample Report

BART Service Essential

Berkeley, Calif. - A halting of BART service would trigger a complete traffic gridlock on Bay Area corridors, according to a new, sobering analysis by transportation researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

The study, released Thursday, Oct. 14, looks at the impact on rush hour traffic if BART service, particularly the stretch through the 3.6-mile, steel and concrete tube under the San Francisco Bay, were no longer available. Hard-hit commutes would include the span from Pittsburg to I-80 via Highway 4, which would take 165 minutes instead of the usual 30 minutes. Travel times from I-680 to Highway 13, via Highway 24 through the Caldecott Tunnel, would go from 24 minutes to 195 minutes, eight times longer than normal.

"We found that the peak morning rush hour will go from two hours starting at 7 a.m. to a staggering seven hours, so half the workday would be gone by the time drivers step out of their cars," said Michael Cassidy, UC Berkeley professor of civil engineering and co-author of the report.

BART supports an estimated 320,000 riders every day. Nearly half of those riders, 150,000 people, travel through the Transbay Tube, which opened to the public 30 years ago. BART commissioned the study in response to numerous media and public requests over the years asking to quantify the impact of an extended BART service interruption on Bay Area commutes.

These are sobering statistics indeed. The Bay Area transportation system functions because it operates exactly like a system with transit and highway contributions working together. Hard to imagine commutes like these. TW

County in Virginia Considers HOT Lanes

Prince William County, Va. – Members of the Board of County Supervisors said last week that high-occupancy toll lanes should be considered as part of the overall transportation plan for Prince William County. The conclusion came after members of the board listened to a presentation by Gary Groat, director of project development for Fluor Virginia.

Fluor Virginia, an Arlington-based transportation company, that submitted a public-private partnership bid to build 56 miles of HOT lanes from 14th Street in Washington, D.C., to the Massaponax interchange in Spotsylvania County. The suggestion is being carefully considered, however, since there is little or no state funding for it. Fluor's $1 billion proposal would add a third lane to the reversible High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes that exist between the north- and south-bound lanes of Interstate 95

Instead of requiring two passengers, the new lanes would require three or more passengers per vehicle to avoid a toll charge. Fluor's design also calls for an additional 24 exit and entrance ramps with some for buses only. Groat said that if environmental impact studies are done within 18 months, construction could begin by 2006.But the Commonwealth Transportation Board has to first decide if it wants HOT lanes, then who should build them.

Port and Rail Group Lobby for Tax Dollars

Portland, Ore. – The Port of Portland and a group of businesses that run and use Oregon’s railroads are hoping to lobby support for state legislation to fund significant freight-rail improvements.

Supporters say the improvements would not only create jobs, but provide Oregon with the tools to better compete with California and Washington for business moving freight to and from ports. The Port organized the Oregon Rail Users League earlier this year.

The railroads are privately owned, but say they cannot afford tens of billions of dollars in track improvements needed nationwide. Some states have elected to pick up part of the tab to better link ships, trains and trucks.

Some of the obvious hurdles include money that is stretched too thin (the state is even struggling to pay for education), the perception of giving money to rail since most of the public uses automobiles and divided interests between the short-line and long-haul railroads.

AASHTO in their Freight-Rail Bottom Line Report indicates that there is a significant need to invest in rail infrastructure in the next 20 years. Literally billions of dollars are needed to handle the expected 67% increase in domestic and international freight tonnage by 2020. The discussion in Oregon is but a part of the national debate on this subject. Is the public going to be willing to allow public dollars to go to privately held railroads? How would it be regulated? What kind of accountability would there be? There are no easy answers to any of these and the many other questions emanating from this discussion. This is a difficult issue but one that will play a critical role in our transportation future. TW

Marquette Interchange Work Moves Forward

Milwaukee, Wis. – Gov. Jim Doyle made a speech last week to mark the beginning of the $810 million reconstruction of Downtown Milwaukee’s outdated Marquette Interchange, the biggest and most expensive public works project in Wisconsin history. However, lawmakers and road builders are getting nervous about how to pay not only for the Marquette Interchange but for projects around the state that will be needed in the future.

Experts estimate that the freeways in southeast Wisconsin need some $6 billion worth of overhauls in coming years. A 21-year highway plan approved by the Department of Transportation four years ago will cost an estimated $20.4 billion in all. But that's at least $5 billion more than the state expects to raise from estimated gasoline taxes, license fees and federal highway aid. Wisconsin’s gasoline tax is already one of the highest in the nation, at 29 cents a gallon. Additionally, interest and principal payments on state transportation bonds now exceed $125 million a year.

As one option, road builders and their allies in government have periodically pressed for high-tech toll roads that charge vehicles electronically as they pass through toll points at full speed.

Tolls Reduced for Truckers

Ohio – In an effort to entice commercial truckers back to the Ohio Turnpike, Gov. Bob Taft announced the second part of his transportation plan last week over the Columbus Day holiday.

After increasing the speed for trucks along the east-west interstate from 55 mph to 65 mph a month ago, Taft announced the state will reduce rates for truck on that same route. Reductions will range from 2 percent to 57 percent, taking some tolls back to the 1950s. For the heaviest-weight class, for example, the rate would be slashed from $72.45 to $31, one dollar higher than the rates were in 1955 when the turnpike opened.

This effort is an attempt to reduce traffic that has steadily increased over the years on routes parallel to the Turnpike, mainly U.S. 20 and Ohio 2. The 18-month trial, which will begin by February, will include increased enforcement of weight and speed on such routes as U.S. 20 and Ohio 2. To aid in that effort, the state will hire 25 additional Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers. The Ohio Department of Transportation will pay for the additional troopers, an estimated $2.5 million initial cost.

Whether he knows it or not, the Governor is practicing variable pricing and managing demand. In the end, he would want to automate such a system and make it more robust but it is a reflection of how market forces can be used to impact how users of the system react. TW

Proposition 400 Garners Public Support

Ariz. – According to recent polling, public support for Proposition 400 is at 65 percent, while 22 percent oppose it and 13 percent remain undecided.

Supporters that are part of the nearly 3-1 ratio exhibit strong support for the overall proposition, but only 53 percent approve of the light-rail component. If approved, the proposition would extend the county’s transportation sales tax for 20 years and would help fund a regional transportation plan that includes expansion of a light-rail system already planned in Phoenix, Tempe and a one-mile portion of Mesa.

If extended, an estimated $8.5 billion would be raised, paying for over half of the state’s transportation projects in Maricopa County, the rest of which would be paid with state and federal transportation funds. Planners hope to divide the funds using $9 billion for freeways, $1.4 billion for streets, $2.3 billion for the bus system, $333 million for regional transit items and $2.3 billion is planned for the light-rail system.

This is encouraging for Arizona but I remain cautious about the numbers. 53% supporting light rail could be the problem here. I am sure there were good reasons for putting the joint highway/light rail initiative on the ballot in its current form but the lack luster support for LRT could be the end of Proposition 400. My experience with ballot initiatives and working with pollsters on these efforts is that you need about 60-65% going into the voting booth to win. There is just that much attrition when people go into the booth and you need a margin of 10-15% to overcome that attrition. Look at the other ballot initiatives around the country and see how this works out in a couple of weeks. You’ll recall the effort in Washington’s Puget Sound area went down with a positive rating of just over 50% going into election day. TW

Study Says Rhode Island Roads in Poor Condition

Providence, R.I. - Fifteen percent of Rhode Island's roads are in such poor condition that they require immediate repair, in spite of improvements over the last two years. In addition, the state has the second-highest percent of bridges with structural deficiencies in the country, with 24 percent being rated deficient.

These are among the findings in a study released today by a national nonprofit transportation research group in Washington, D.C., titled "Making the Grade in Rhode Island: A Report Card on the Condition of Rhode Island’s Road and Bridges and an Analysis of the Ability of its Transportation System to Provide Safe and Efficient Mobility." The Road Information Program (TRIP) report card grades Rhode Island bridges a "D," roads a "C-Minus," and traffic congestion a "C."

Poor road conditions cost the average Rhode Island motorist $348 in extra vehicle operating costs per year, higher than the national average of $271 per year, the report says.

On November 2, Rhode Island voters will approve or reject state general-obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes totaling $66,520,000. If authorized, that state funding will result in federal matching funds of $378,000,000.

In a news conference where the results of the study were released, Rhode Island Transportation Director James Capaldi urged voters to approve the $66.52 million transportation bond this November. On many projects, the state pays only 20 percent of the cost, with the Federal Highway Administration paying the rest. The state borrows the money to pay its share. The DOT, which Capaldi heads, would use $60 million of the bond issue to match $378 million from the federal government during the next two years.

Bond Issue to be Put Before Fairfax Voters

Fairfax County, Va. – This November, Fairfax County voters will have a chance to pass a $165 million bond that will be used for transportation projects.

The bond measure is considered crucial to the business community, being cited as an aid to help relieve congestion, but the measure does not come before voters without opposition. Some critics think the bond measure could just go toward the $1.5 billion Metro shortfall.

Of the bond total, Metro would receive $110 million to purchase items such as rail cars and buses and $5 million would be used for pedestrian improvements. The remaining $50 million will be used to implement the Board of Supervisor's transportation plan. The Board will leverage its plan with funds it hopes to get from the state and federal governments, said Charlie Strunk, chief of the Capital Projects Section for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

Missouri Considers Toll Roads

Mo. – In an effort to raise money to rebuild Interstate 70, Missouri highway officials are considering tolls as high as $20 round-trip for passenger vehicles and $45 round-trip for commercial trucks along the route between St. Louis and Kansas City.

The money raised would be used to expand the four-lane interstate to six lanes statewide. The Missouri Department of Transportation said a more detailed study of an I-70 toll system should be completed in two weeks.

Acquiring tolling authority won’t be easy and has already been shot down twice by Missouri voters, once in 1970 and another in 1992. The state’s voters need to approve any toll plan because it would require a constitutional amendment and legislative approval. Illinois and six other states neighboring Missouri already have authority to charge tolls. Parts of I-70 in Kansas already are tolled.

South Carolina Bridge Ahead of Schedule

S.C. – Despite delays caused by seven tropical weather systems this summer, construction of the new Cooper River bridge, a $632 million project, is expected to open in May, one year ahead of schedule.

Prior to most of the storms, crews tried to secure the work site from Mount Pleasant to Charleston and up Interstate 26, by moving barges upstream and tying down nonessential work materials. As an additional preventative measure, bridge crews installed massive concrete counterweights on each section of uncompleted road deck and a system of cables that collectively worked to steady the bridge in winds up to 73 mph. Due to the new bridge’s hurricane security system, it will be able to withstand winds up to 195 mph.

Tolls Considered for Mississippi’s I-10

Miss. – Although the Mississippi Department of Transportation hired a consultant to study the feasibility of adding toll booths along I-10, director Butch Brown has emphasized that the state DOT is simply evaluating the option and there aren’t any immediate plans to implement tolls.

The MDOT federal application, under Butch Brown's signature, says a consultant found: "Toll conversion will be very successful" Recommendations include, "use a very low toll rate for passenger vehicles".

Putting a toll on I-10 may, in fact, be a moot point. The only program that allows governments to place tolls on existing interstate highways faces an uncertain funding future itself. Congress has not yet settled on a new federal highway funding bill, so that program that enables such tolls, may or may not be included.

Tolls keep coming up each week. I think we have had at least one report per week on the subject. That kind of interest is bound to bring something to fruition. Of course there is this little matter of federal prohibition that must be dealt with. Under TEA-21 there was provision for a pilot program. Supporters of the new highway bill are backing broad authority for states to toll the Interstate. The Kennedy amendment (R-Mn) to the current House bill has eliminated much of the progress made by the industry in this area. Look for vigorous opposition and an eventual removal of Kennedy’s handiwork when the bill is finally passed. TW