Alternative Tolling Technologies: Infrastructure Free Hot Lanes

Alternative Tolling Technologies

SB 242 (Wyland)

SUMMARY

Authorizes Caltrans and local transportation agencies to conduct pilot projects of automated tolling technologies as an alternative to existing radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology for a period of 4 years.

BACKGROUND

Current law requires the Department of Transportation, in cooperation with all known entities planning to implement a toll facility, to comply with specifications and standards for an automatic vehicle identification system and toll tags.

Specifically, the California Code of Regulations and corresponding code section requires automatic vehicle identification system specs that only authorizes the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to be used for tolling technology. Furthermore, current law provides that tolling technology must conform to specific interoperability standards.

These regulations have not been updated in two decades, while RFID tolling technology has been around since the 1970s. This has limited tolling options from the use of new and advanced technologies. Recent tolling technological advances utilize infrastructure free technology such as GPS or the existing cellular network, eliminating the need for large gantries needed for RFID tolling technology.

Such alternatives to RFID tolling technology may provide for lower cost tolling infrastructure, lower related operating costs, as well as more rapid deployment and roll out of regional high occupancy toll (HOT) lane networks.

Encouraging alternatives to existing RFID tolling technology, such as infrastructure free technology, has the potential to save millions of dollars in infrastructure costs and accelerating toll revenues that can be reinvested back into needed transportation infrastructure.

　

BILL DETAILS

This bill would allow local and regional transportation agencies and Caltrans to conduct pilot projects on existing HOV lanes utilizing alternative tolling technologies that may or may not meet interoperability standards mandated under current law.

SB 242 provides such alternative tolling technology pilot projects throughout the state for a period of four years. Within four years of commencing the pilot project, a summary report that discusses the effectiveness of the technology, market performance, congestion management, safety, and implementation challenges and opportunities must be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature.

An agency may only conduct a pilot project if it does not cause the reduction in federal aid highway funds.

California Mattress Recycling Bill, SB 254, Moves Forward On A Bi-Partisan Vote

 

CALIFORNIA USED MATTRESS RECYCLING

LEGISLATION APPROVED BY CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE

SB 254 (Hancock/Correa) Now Moves To The Assembly

Sacramento, CA -- On Wednesday, May 29, 2013, California’s State Senate SB 254 (Hancock/Correa) was approved on the Senate Floor vote by a 32-5 bipartisan vote. 

SB 254 creates a used mattress recycling program that will have a dedicated funding mechanism, reduce the impact of illegally dumped mattresses, harness existing infrastructure for transporting used mattresses to recyclers, create jobs, and minimize costs to both government and consumers.

International Sleep Products Association President, Ryan Trainer commented, “We are very pleased Members of the California State Senate recognized the importance and value of SB 254.  Since its inception, all stakeholders have been diligently working to craft sound used mattress recycling policy that will benefit consumers, retailers, manufacturers, and the environment.”

The result provides Californians with a comprehensive mattress recycling solution that is consumer friendly and efficient.  The SB 254 model is now very similar to existing successful recycling systems in California for paint and used carpet. 

SB 254 enjoys a broad range of support from industry, retailers, cities and counties, local elected officials, and waste management organizations.  It creates a non-profit mattress recycling organization whose duty would be to plan, implement and administer a state system to collect discarded used mattresses, dismantle them and recycle their materials for use in new products. The program will be sustained by collecting a nominal fee at retail on the sale of new mattresses and box-springs.  The fee collected does not go into government coffers; rather, it is remitted directly to the NGO responsible for sustaining the mattress-recycling program. 

Shelly Sullivan representing Californians for Mattress Recycling stated, “SB 254 (Hancock/Correa) simply puts a price on used mattresses akin to California’s bottle and can recycling program.  It’s good common sense that ensures Californians can continue their overall enthusiasm in improving their recycling practices.”

 SB 254 (Hancock-Correa) now moves to the Assembly for Committee hearings and a floor vote.

 

 Contact: Shelly Sullivan

  (916) 858-8686

oOo

GOOD NEWS / BAD NEWS: Google will manufacture its newest phone the "Moto X" in the USA but California loses 2,000 high paying manufacturing jobs to Texas. California 's high tax, high regulatory burden and high cost of housing simply made it impossible for Google to seriously consider siting those coveted jobs here in the Golden state.         


May 30, 2013
Walter Russell Mead's Blog

Google’s New Phone: Made in the USA

Motorola Mobility, the phonemaker Google purchased last year, announced yesterday that it will manufacture its newest phone, the Moto X, in the United States (just outside of Fort Worth, Texas). Motorola Mobility CEO Dennis Woodside teased the new smartphone at the D11 conference, but the made-in-America buzz trumped the latest and greatest features it’s purported to have. The NYT reports:

Dennis Woodside, the head of Motorola, said…that the Texas location would allow Motorola to “iterate and innovate much faster.”
Mr. Woodside acknowledged that while the Moto X will be built in the United States, not all of its parts would necessarily come from American manufacturers.
“The components will come all over the world,” he said. Display parts will be built in South Korea, for example, and processors will be made in Taiwan, he said.

Woodside estimated that the Texas plant would employ roughly 2,000 Americans. That’s nothing to shake a stick at, but nor is it as exciting as some are making it out to be. The phone’s parts will still be made outside of the US; the Fort Worth plant will just be putting these parts together. And a few thousand jobs here and there are hardly a sign that the Fordist era of American manufacturing is making a comeback.
So why is Google making such a big deal about this? First, because the made-in-America tag is great PR, and tech companies like Google and Amazon are increasingly seeing the value in aligning themselves with the preferences and causes of the American political class.
A couple of years ago, when President Obama asked Steve Jobs whether Apple could make its products in the US rather than China, he famously replied that “those jobs aren’t coming back.” Today’s tech giants seem much less cavalier about delivering such dour news to Washington. Issues of intellectual property rights and instances of state-backed hacking of American companies have become big problems for Silicon Valley. Tech CEOs have re-discovered the benefits of cozying up to Uncle Sam for warmth in a cold, harsh world.
We’re happy that Texas will pick up a couple of thousand jobs courtesy of Google, but this doesn’t mean mass manufacturing employment is coming back.

Mattress Recycling Bill (Hancock-Correa) SB 254 Q&A

Mattress Recycling Bill – SB 254 (Hancock-Correa)

Mattress Recycling Done Right

Californians for Mattress Recycling (C4MR) supports legislation to establish a mattress recycling system in California. The primary goals of this plan are to:

 

Ø  Create an economically practical system for recycling used mattresses;

Ø  Reduce the impact of illegally dumped mattresses;

Ø  Harness existing infrastructure for getting used mattresses to recyclers;

Ø  Minimize cost to governments and consumers.

If enacted, this would be the first law of its kind in the country and would provide a model for other states to follow. The proposed law would accomplish the following:

·         Create a non-profit mattress recycling organization made up of retailers and manufacturers whose duty would be to plan, implement and administer a state system to collect discarded used mattresses, dismantle them and recycle their materials for use in new products. 

·         The organization would fund the system by collecting a nominal fee at retail on the sale of new mattresses and box-springs.  The fee collected does NOT go into government coffers; rather, it is remitted directly to the NGO responsible for the mattress recycling program.  Many states follow a similar approach for other consumer products, including tires, batteries, motor oil, electronic devices, paint and carpet.

·         The organization will create a financial incentive to encourage parties (reimburse retailers that pick up used mattresses from consumers, municipal transfer stations, and groups that pick up illegally dumped mattresses) to send used mattresses to mattress recyclers. 

·         The organization would essentially eliminate the problem of illegal mattress dumping through the establishment of the financial incentive.

·         The system would  take advantage of the fact that most retailers already pick up used mattresses as part of their service to their customers.

·         The organization would develop reimbursement criteria for retailers to recover their administrative costs associated with program participation.

·         The organization will increase recycling rates, improve consumer awareness of, and participation in the system, and conduct research to improve recycling efficiency and demand for recycled materials.

·         The organization’s activities will be transparent and open to public input and subject to annual performance and financial audits that would be published on its website.

·         The state’s oversight authority would confirm whether the organization has met its statutory obligations.

 

Californians for Mattress Recycling is an ad hoc group representing stakeholders united in their support for efficient and practical mattress recycling.  For more information contact Shelly Sullivan at (916) 858-8686 or go to: http://www.ca4mattressrecycling.org