VTrans Budget by Funding Source

Transcription

1 Fall 2013

2 VTrans Budget by Funding Source 700,000,000 $658.1 $ ,000,000 $557.7 $595.8 $ ,000,000 $454.2 $420.9 $ ,000, ,000, ,000, ,000, State Fiscal Year State Federal (non-arra) ARRA Local Federal dollars include FEMA and FHWA ER funding for Irene in SFY 2012 through 2014

3 Central Garage $ % Maintenance $ % Town Programs $ % Bike and Ped $ % Enhancements $ % Other $ % Public Transit $ % DMV $ % Rail $ % State Bridges $ % Aviation $ % State Paving $ % Roadway and Safety $ %

4 Local/Other Sources $ % Federal - Disaster (FEMA/FHWA) $ % Bonds $ % Central Garage Internal Service $ % State Transportation $ % Federal $ % State TIB $ %

5 Other Revenues $ % TIB Fund $ % Gasoline Tax $ % Motor Vehicle Fees $ % Purchase and Use $ % Diesel Tax $ %

6 Current budget of $653 million, but future revenues may be closer to $500- $550 million due to reduced Fed funds. Estimated gap between funding revenue and needs: $200-$250 million per year. Consequences of not closing this gap Rougher roads, posted and/or closed bridges Increased cost due to deferred maintenance Reduced funding of bike, ped, transit, rail Stagnant funding for local roads (more pressure on the property tax as construction costs increase).

7 We can t go it alone: Increased federal funding is required. Still need to raise more state revenue. Some Funding Options Raise the gas and diesel tax. Index the gas and diesel tax to inflation. Shift to a mileage-based user fee. Increase registration fees. Vary fee by vehicle size and weight. Lease space to concessionaires at rest areas. Sell naming rights. Annual excise tax. Bicycle registration fees. Advertising on state vehicles. Tolling.

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9 Hybrid Vehicles Do Not Plug-In Powers the vehicle using the engine, electric motor, or both. Electric motor uses energy stored in batteries and is charged by the engine and through regenerative breaking. Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles Both an internal combustion engine and electric motor that recharges from the electric grid and allows the vehicle to drive on electricity alone. All Electric Vehicles No gasoline.

10 Make and Model Number registered statewide Chevrolet Volt 73 Toyota Prius Plug-in 213 Tesla Roadster & Model S 20 Nissan Leaf 44 Mitsubishi imiev 16 Ford C-MAX Energi 20 Ford Fusion Energi 16 Ford Focus Electric 4 Electric Vehicle Registration Tracking October 2013 Smart Electric Drive 3 Other (e.g. after market 23 conversions) Total 432 October 2013 AEV and PHEV Registrations by Vehicle Model in Vermont, (VEIC, 2013)

11 U.S. Energy Information Agency projects 5,600 Vermont EVs by Current registrations exceed projections. State Energy Plan sets goal of 25% of Vermont fleet 142,975 vehicles to be EVs by Actual number likely tied to charging-station development and consumer comfort. About 226 strategically located public stations believed necessary.

12 EVs present competing goals State Energy Plan encourages EV use State goal: 25% renewable-energy fleet by 2030 Transportation funding tied to gas tax Hitting goal represents $21 million loss in gas taxes Remedy options need to be practical Easy to administer Easy for Vermonters to understand and accept Provide a stable revenue stream

13 Flat annual registration fee Administrative ease, but use neutral $146 average fee achieves revenue neutrality Volumetric taxes 3.6 cents per kwh for EV 27.7 cents per ccf for Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle miles traveled fee 1.1 cents per mile achieves revenue neutrality

14 Fall 2013

15 PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE POLICY STATEMENT VTrans-funded projects and programs shall reasonably include pedestrians and bicyclists. New projects, reconstruction projects and other transportation facility improvements will maintain or where feasible improve existing access and conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists to meet applicable Vermont standards.

16 An act relating to a transportation policy that considers all users (Act 34 of 2011) Requires that the needs of all transportation users, regardless of their age, ability, or preferred mode of transportation be considered, regardless of the project s funding source in state and municipal transportation projects.

17 Funding tends to favor pedestrian facilities over bike facilities $15.6 million in awards since 2010 $9.5 million for sidewalks $4.0 million for bike paths $2.1 million for combo sidewalk and on-road improvements

18 For bikes, VTrans adds 3-foot shoulders to roads where there are none today. How should these efforts be prioritized? Local recreational loops? Commuting stretches that connect destinations? Emphasis on heavy traffic roads? Is widening shoulders enough? Separate bikeways needed? For sidewalks, funding tends to be for village centers. When do you put sidewalk on a bridge? Other locations? Fund a lot of sidewalks, not shared-use paths. This OK?

19 Encouragement & Education What should VTrans do for safety education? Radio PSA? Front Porch Forum? Public gatherings? On-line tutorials? Other? How can VTrans encourage biking and walking? Policy statement mentions encouragement, but Agency is struggling to find effective ways and is looking for ideas.

20 Fall 2013

21 Rail is only mode that does not have dedicated federal funding, relying almost exclusively on state funds and discretionary federal funding that is difficult to obtain. The Feds have a High Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Program that funds track improvements. Vermont participates, but funding is competitive. Lack of dedicated federal funding has made it challenging to maintain good operating conditions for both freight and passenger service.

22 Intercity Passenger Rail Ethan Allen Express: Daily Round Trip from Rutland to NYC Vermonter: Daily Round Trip from St. Albans to Washington DC. ETHAN ALLEN VERMONTER

23 Approximately $7.2 million is needed to annually support the Ethan Allen Express and Vermonter, up from about $4.8 million just a year ago. Priority new services have been identified as 1) the western corridor and 2) extension of the Vermonter to Montreal. Western corridor includes expanding service north from Rutland to Middlebury and Burlington, as well as south of Rutland to Manchester and Bennington.

24 While freight and passenger upgrades complement each other, their needs also compete for limited resources as most rail lines do not carry passengers. Feds now require Vermont to have both a longterm capitalization plan as well as list funding priorities. In the past, the State s Rail Plan was a general policy document that was only State mandated.

25 State owns 300 miles of track, which is in worse shape than privately-owned track Should the State sell all or some? Should the State seek publicprivate partnerships? Other ideas? What should the state s priority be? Freight? Passenger? Combo? The Legislature would like to reduce the $7.2 million passenger-rail subsidy by 20 percent. How can that be done?

26 Fall 2013

27 Why Focus on Intercity Bus? Vermont intercity bus services fell from 50 stops in 1998 to six today with three of those vulnerable to discontinuation. National decline from 15,000 stops to about 2,000 stops today. What is Intercity Bus Service? Regularly scheduled bus service. Limited stops between 2 or more urban areas not close together. Not designed as a commuter service. Fixed route, capable of carrying baggage. Meaningful connection with national intercity network.

28 Within Vermont, service is limited: o Greyhound: Montreal>Burlington> Montpelier>White River Junction> Boston o Greyhound: White River Junction> Bellows Falls> Brattleboro> Springfield, MA o Yankee Trails: Bennington>Albany o Megabus: Burlington>Boston In the works, on line soon: o Albany>Bennington>Burlington o Rutland>White River State subsidizes three lines at $400,000 annually.

29 Newport>St. Johnsbury>White River Albany>Bennington>Brattleboro>either Manchester, NH or Boston. (Possible stops in Keene and Nashua if NH participates) Should these be the new priorities? Other suggestions?

30 Growing need for day programs to help seniors stay out of nursing homes and age in place. Saves money on nursing home care. State annually spends $3.4 million, but money runs out ¾ of way through year. Better info tools needed for schedule and connections likely Google Transit based.

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32 13,000 annual crashes 375 are major crashes 314 are incapacitating injury crashes 61 are fatal crashes 68 annual deaths

33 54 fatalities ( , ). 36 operators, 13 passengers, 3 pedestrians. 25 unbelted or not wearing helmet. 13 operators suspected of under the influence of alcohol 8 operators suspected of under the influence of drugs 7 operators suspected of speeding

34 Critical Emphasis Areas Young Drivers Alcohol Driver Inattention Safety Belts Lane Departure Aggressive Driving Intersections

35 Examples of recent initiatives include: 1. Data Driven Targeted Speed Enforcement 2. Roundabout Construction 3. Increased emphasis on pavement markings and rumble stripes 4. Consolidated messages and efforts on safety initiatives (i.e. Click it or Ticket) 5. Regional Safety Forums 6. What else?

36 Fall 2013

37 In 2003, there were 23 state Park & Rides with about 742 spaces. In 2013, there are 28 State Park & Rides with about 1,270 spaces. In 2005, state started municipal Park & Ride program, to date funding 46 facilities with 750 spaces.

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39 State looking to develop statewide plan and identify gaps, both state-owned and municipal. Is there local demand? Are lots over capacity? Where should new ones go, and why? What do you use Park & Rides for? Commuting? Recreational travel? Business travel? What do lots need to be successful? Lights? Landscaping? Cleanliness? Other?

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