Hello Highway User,

According to an October 2007 poll, 60% of statewide voters said they’re more likely to vote for a state legislative candidate who said it was a priority to increase funding for transportation. Interestingly, men and women are equally inclined to support such candidates.

In Clark County, the support is even stronger. There, 2/3 of voters are more likely to cast a ballot for a candidate who prioritizes transportation funding.

Among self-described Independent voters, who made up 23% of those polled, 64% were inclined to support a candidate who emphasized transportation funding as an issue.

The numbers jump higher again for people with a lengthy commute. For voters with a commute over 30 minutes, the figure jumps to 67%.

The poll is very relevant because it is reflective of the political, geographic and demographic spectrum of Nevada and focused entirely on 2008 voters. Of those interviewed, 76% were absolutely certain that they would vote in 2008, and an additional 20% were very likely to do so.

Clearly, transportation funding and the state of our roads is an issue that’s important to voters and should be to their elected representatives as well.

Fuel Efficiency: Because gas taxes are an essential revenue source for Nevada’s Highway Fund, fuel efficiency standards play a direct role in how much money is available to fix roads and build new ones. Last month, President Bush signed a bill that increases fuel efficiency requirements for cars and trucks by 40%. The bill, HR 6, requires a 35 mile-per-gallon fuel economy by 2020. For a summary of the legislation, see the Detroit Free Press at: http://www.freep.com/

The state’s revenue for transportation infrastructure is also dwindling due to the growing number of hybrid vehicles. Because hybrids use less gasoline, they contribute less to the Highway Fund, yet they generate the same wear-and-tear on our roads as other vehicles. The market for hybrids is clearly rising. Reports indicate registrations of new hybrid vehicles increased 35% during the first 10 months of 2007. While the overall benefits of greater fuel efficiency are clear and important, the effect these developments have on the state’s Highway Fund must also be watched with a close eye. For more on Hybrid vehicles, see the AP’s article on Saturn’s Vue: http://ap.google.com/article/

Pennsylvania Update: With 3 plans being considered to raise new transportation revenue in PA (tolling I-80, raising the gas tax by 25 cents per gallon and increasing tolls on the PA Turnpike), a fourth option could be on the way. A state Senate leader is now developing a plan of his own, which should be unveiled soon. For more information, see the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at:
http://www.post-gazette.com/

U.S. 95 Widening: Congestion and gridlock is likely to return to U.S. 95 faster than originally anticipated, according to a column in Las Vegas City Life late last month. While the highway was designed to handle traffic until 2027, officials expect those lanes to be at full capacity 10 years earlier. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada estimates that for each 1,000 new residents, 750 more vehicles are added to our already-congested roads. That shapes up as a problem for the fastest-growing state in the nation when it already has a multi-billion dollar revenue funding shortfall. For the article, see Las Vegas City Life at: http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/

Source: The Road Information Program (TRIP), March 2007