legislation

The Dulles Greenway is getting advantageous new arrangements for regulation of its concession that are a rebuff to oppoents. Activists have been trying to freeze toll rates and give regulators arbitrary powers. Under a new bill HB1140 the operators of the privately built tollroad in northern Virginia get to increase their tolls up to amounts already approved by regulators through 2012. The Greenway runs 23km (14 miles between Dulles and Leesburg VA.
 read more »

1489 words

Texas governor Rick Perry, Monday, signed SB792, the heavily fought over tollroads bill, saying it allows needed roads to be built while expanding the powers of local communities to develop toll projects.

In a statement about the bill Perry said:
390 words  read more »

There's a little noticed killer clause in concession freeze bills voted out of the Texas legislature Wednesday (May 2) - a ban on refund formulas based on estimates of future toll revenue in case of early termination by the state - so-called termination for convenience.
543 words  read more »

Regional authorities in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads are given tolling & concession powers in HB3202 a complex and much fought over transport funding bill passed by the Virginia legislature Apr 4.

Major focus in the mainstream media coverage has been the bill's increases in taxes, although tolls offer far greater potential for raising new revenue that the rather minor proposed increases the tax on motor vehicle insurance premiums and in the state diesel fuel tax.  read more »

1596 words