I wish we could keep local tax dollars instead of sending them to the feds. State money is nothing. We could actually do something different instead of getting letting bigger states dictate everything.KansasCitian wrote: ↑May 12, 2021I really wish there was a way for St. Louis to keep its local tax dollars and keep them from going toward new rural roads in Nowhere, Missouri.
Easy to say. Hard to do. We're an auto dependent City and State and will be and as such, we should focus on that type of infrastructure and work pedestrian improvements into it. In the cities, plan ahead for BRT, but even then, people will prefer to drive over riding a bike, taking scooter, or using transit. That's the way things are here. Sorry to burst people's bubble about a utopian future of few cars and extreme walkability. We're not Europe and the days of a dense, urban core have long passed thanks to land clearance and "urban renewal" of yesteryear.quincunx wrote: ↑May 12, 2021Or we could concentrate on getting around by other means seomtimes rather than coercing so much driving for everything.
This new money comes with no reform. They added 8,000 lane-miles to the state's liabilities since the last gas tax increase in 1996. Will they dig the hole deeper again?
This increase doesn't even make up for the inflation erosion since 1996. And it will be eroded by inflation again.
We run the system like an unfunded pension system- promises are made, liabilities taken on, people count on them, become dependent on them, no money is set aside to meet them. Imagine if with each new road/bridge money had to be saved to pay for the predictable maintenance and replacement? But that would mean less could have been built or taxes would have had to be higher, non-starter.
We could reform it to prevent the construction of new highways, but reconstruction of highways and roads that are in desperate need of repair should be allowed. Widening of highways and roads should be looked at on a case by case basis. To me, it seems like no highways need to be widened, but there are parts of I-70 that should be widened and lit. The new climbing lanes that are built in Mid-Missouri are a help to pass slow trucks on the way to KC and back.
I mean, this gas tax measure already included a task force to study the impact electric cars will have on the state, so I wouldn't be surprised if moves are made on the legislation side of things as time goes on.
good one!!! 
While I say that building gas stations to include electric car hookups should be mandated, most of those decisions will be made by private owners. We already see that in new and renovated buildings, although on a small scale.
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Honestly, gas stations aren't necessarily the most logical places for e-car hookups. In the UK you see them at malls, which seems darned smart if you asked me. They have them in Columbia MO by a supermarket, at least. Put them at places where you need to spend time; shopping centers, movie theatres, restaurants, offices. They're basically a parking stall with a plug. It's not complicated.
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^ I know at least SoCo Mall has some Tesla chargers set up; I'm sure some of the other local malls do too (though I haven't personally seen them). There's not a whole lot of them there though, so it's definitely got room for enlargement and dispersion across the campus to make it more convenient.
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chriss752 wrote: ↑May 12, 2021Sorry to burst people's bubble about a utopian future of few cars and extreme walkability. We're not Europe and the days of a dense, urban core have long passed thanks to land clearance and "urban renewal" of yesteryear.
ah, yes, the utopia of Europe: a parallel universe inhabited by a different species of bipedal life form with the superhuman ability to choose forms of transportation other than driving, and where the laws of physics are totally different, and where entire cities have been rebuilt with dense urban cores—during the urban renewal era no less—after being bombed to hell. ironically, Americans LOVE to vacation there.it's just choices, Chris. we continue to choose rampant, self-destructive consumerism to enrich a handful of wealth-hoarding parasites.
Stl Public Radio - Conservative Group Wants To Send Gas Tax Hike To Missouri Voters
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/governm ... uri-voters
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/governm ... uri-voters
California would be higher but they're stuck in traffic. Crazy that they are so low.quincunx wrote: ↑May 14, 2021Interesting
VMT-per-cap-CA-MO-MS-OR.png
https://www.enotrans.org/article/trends ... apita-vmt/
Not really. San Fran and San Diego are not LA. Dense and walkable in both cities. SF has a very mature transit system. LA also has quite an extensive light rail system now. Unfamiliar with Sacramento's scenario.flipz wrote: ↑May 18, 2021California would be higher but they're stuck in traffic. Crazy that they are so low.quincunx wrote: ↑May 14, 2021Interesting
VMT-per-cap-CA-MO-MS-OR.png
https://www.enotrans.org/article/trends ... apita-vmt/
^ Big part of it is that the Bay Area has a huge tech workface and all the big tech companies sent employees home. That was huge in terms of transit use (way down), congestion way down and miles driven. My commute is almost 70 miles a day roundtrip and not too far off from the norm for a lot of tech people. I suspect you will see a big uptick in Cali miles by end of years as lot of the big tech are planning on people being back in office most of the week from Google to Salesforce.
Stl Public Radio - Governor Parson Signs Off On Missouri's First Gas Tax Hike In More Than Two Decades
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/governm ... wo-decades
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/governm ... wo-decades
St. Louis Public Radio - Rep. Becky Ruth Explains Missouri’s New Gas Tax Increase — And Its Rebate Feature
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/show/st ... te-featureShe added that because of the Interstate Commerce Clause in the measure, people from other states who fill up their gas tanks in Missouri are eligible for the refund as well.
....
Businesses and corporations may also apply for refunds, as the representative noted in response to a listener who called in with concerns about what that could mean for state coffers.
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So, trucking companies that are responsible for the highway destruction destruction won't be paying? Great. MoLeg strikes again
StL Public Radio - Gas taxes just went up in Missouri, but drivers won’t see new road improvements soon
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/governm ... provements
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/governm ... provements
You can only claim a refund if your vehicle is under a certainly weight, can't remember if it is 26k or 28k lbs. Tractor trailers are much heavier, so they will not be eligible for refunds.
Project on short list from the public radio article that Quincunx posted that seems way over due. I believe their is some regional freightway projects in the pipeline to reconfigure and improve road access for cargo, freight, industrial sites on northside of airport as well. Hopefully both can happen if region could secure some more Fed grants, funding on north side of Lambert.quincunx wrote: ↑Oct 04, 2021StL Public Radio - Gas taxes just went up in Missouri, but drivers won’t see new road improvements soon
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/governm ... provements
Other projects on the short list in the St. Louis area include:
- “Major interstate reconstruction” that would reconfigure access to St. Louis Lambert Airport on I-70.
If only people had the freedom to use less gas.
Stltoday - Efforts to repeal Missouri’s gasoline tax hike face uphill climb in Legislature
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... 1f47f.html
Stltoday - Efforts to repeal Missouri’s gasoline tax hike face uphill climb in Legislature
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... 1f47f.html
The rebate form should include a pledge not to complain about pot holes.
Stltoday - Motorists to start filing for fuel tax rebate in Missouri in coming months
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... 2994d.html
Stltoday - Motorists to start filing for fuel tax rebate in Missouri in coming months
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... 2994d.html
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^Oh, snap! Can I request an added local surtax to fix S Grand?
Governing - Here’s Why Cutting Gas Taxes Doesn’t Work When Prices Soar
https://www.governing.com/now/heres-why ... rices-soarGonzález-Hermoso argues that to protect Americans from future price surges, policymakers need to make them less vulnerable to the fluctuations of a volatile commodity. He advocates for designing denser communities, making roadways safer for non-car users, and increasing public transit access. The time is ripe, as driving becomes pricier, for beginning such changes.
I think zoning changes so that you have many different industries within neighborhoods along with entertainment and parks is more important than simply density. Too much density is not good either.quincunx wrote: ↑Apr 26, 2022Governing - Here’s Why Cutting Gas Taxes Doesn’t Work When Prices Soar
https://www.governing.com/now/heres-why ... rices-soarGonzález-Hermoso argues that to protect Americans from future price surges, policymakers need to make them less vulnerable to the fluctuations of a volatile commodity. He advocates for designing denser communities, making roadways safer for non-car users, and increasing public transit access. The time is ripe, as driving becomes pricier, for beginning such changes.
NextSTL - Record Gas Prices Didn’t Decrease Fuel Sales in Missouri
https://nextstl.com/2022/04/record-gas- ... -missouri/
https://nextstl.com/2022/04/record-gas- ... -missouri/