I would much rather pay a higher registration fee for a bike that I use every day of the year, rather than for a car that sits in the garage most of the time. A wheel tax is regressive for those of us who do our best to conserve energy and use public roadways very little (aside from local streets, for which we pay in large part with property taxes). ----- Original Message -----
From: "William Hauda" <[email protected]> To: "Eric Sundquist" <[email protected]>, "Larry Nelson" <[email protected]>, "Matthew Logan" <[email protected]> Cc: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2015 11:12:25 PM Subject: Re: [Bikies] Iowa Raises Gas Tax The problem with a wheel tax is the same problem we face with the state transportation fund. It's a perception issue. There's no guarantee any of the $ from a wheel tax will go for bicycling. Given the negative view of the public and their elected officials of cycling as being a part of an integrated transportation system, it's just another tax to fund roads for cars. While better roads for cars may also accommodate us ( if complete streets is not repealed, which is a current issue in the legislature, and Bike Fed is working on trying to resolve that problem ) a wheel tax might finance new and re-pave existing streets and roads, but it is not going to specifically help bicycle transportation. That's where we need to go. We need to statutorily integrate bicycling into transportation funding because it is a part of transportation. On 3/3/2015 5:49 PM, Eric Sundquist wrote: I have heard discussion among County Board members about establishing a wheel tax and would favor it, based on that discussion and Larry's info. A $20 tax in Dane County would bring in between $4 million and $5 million -- not nearly what the RTA was looking at and small potatoes compared to big projects like Verona Road or Highway M, but definitely a part of the puzzle in growing the multimodal system in the county. From: Larry Nelson <[email protected]> To: Matthew Logan <[email protected]> Cc: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2015 5:31 PM Subject: Re: [Bikies] Iowa Raises Gas Tax Planning includes financing needed public transportation improvements. The following municipalities have adopted the wheel tax. Municipalities Appleton (city) - $20 beginning February 2015 Arena (township) - $20 beginning April 2015 Beloit (city) - $10 through January 2015; $20 beginning February 2015 Janesville (city) - $10 Milwaukee (city) - $20 Counties Chippewa County - $10 beginning January 2015 Iowa County - $20 beginning February 2015 St. Croix County - $10 I don't think that they did that because they wanted to but that they had to. I rather doubt that Iowa County and the Town of Arena in Iowa County adopted a wheel tax because they wanted to: rather, I suspect that they had to in order to fund their transportation responsibilities. The WIDOT collects the wheel tax for a small charge. And, I intend to lobby my township, the Town of Dodgeville, to do the same in order to maintain town roads. I argue that biking is a transportation mode. Upon reflection, I don't argue that: I assert that biking is a part of the transportation system as a proven fact. The wheel tax has to be spent on transportation. This is a tool already provided by the State. I suggest that you consider this when you next discuss transportation issues with your elected officials. Think and act locally. Larry D Nelson ----- Original Message ----- From: "Matthew Logan" < [email protected] > To: "Larry D Nelson" < [email protected] >, "William Hauda" < [email protected] >, [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2015 9:21:32 AM Subject: RE: [Bikies] Iowa Raises Gas Tax The core problem since November 2010 is not a lack of funding or planning for transportation - The Governor and Legislature have had no problem making money show up for highway expansions (that primarily benefit people in the suburbs of Milwaukee), even when facing large deficits that are otherwise used to justify large cuts elsewhere in the budget. The problem is that the people making the decisions do not believe it is the role of the state to provide funding for bicycling, while at the same time, clinging to 1970's-era thinking about the value of highways. The Governor has stated that until all the roads are fixed, bicycle facilities will have to wait. Of course, by "fixed" he means, enough money lavished on them to send a signal to businesses (the few that directly benefit from highway spending) that they should consider relocating to Wisconsin. The Governor has also effectively said that the people of Wisconsin have chosen to drive, so that is where all the money should go - to infrastructure that directly benefits the payers of gas tax (which means motorists). The Governor and GOP have been promoting the meme that the transportation fund has been raided, and needs to be repaid. This, despite the fact that the LFB reported a net $314 million transfer from the General Fund to Transportation since the "raids" began in 2003. These beliefs displayed by the Governor and legislature are at odds with the reality of AADT trend lines looking more flat - a fact now acknowledged by AASHTO. The problem is not that we need a plan for a revenue stream - it is that our elected officials have no rational basis upon which we can argue the merits of increasing funding for bicycling infrastructure. They live in a world where economically productive highways have been cheated out of their due by special interest groups like teachers and bicyclists. They live in a world where fairness dictates repayment for this perceived wrong. Until that belief system changes, planning will have no effect. -----Original Message----- From: Bikies [mailto: [email protected] ] On Behalf Of Larry D Nelson Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 7:02 AM To: 'William Hauda'; [email protected] Subject: Re: [Bikies] Iowa Raises Gas Tax In my observations and study regarding the construction of public works from Rome to the present time (I apologize if that sounds pompous: it is my hobby), there are periods of time when funding and resources are just not made available to construct needed improvements. But, wise people plan for the future. For example, the interstate highway system planning took place decades before there was a President Eisenhower to implement the plan. Planning is relatively inexpensive. Bill, please plan and propose. For my part, I'd like to consider moving the responsibility for state bike routes from the WDNR to the WIDOT, and recognize that their construction and maintenance are transportation corridors/modes. Ok, I am off my soap box :>) Larry D. Nelson, P.E. PO Box 199 4180 Wilson Road Dodgeville, WI 53533 608 630 6532 (C) -----Original Message----- From: Bikies [mailto: [email protected] ] On Behalf Of William Hauda Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2015 7:01 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Bikies] Iowa Raises Gas Tax Mike, Iowa also has in place a constitutional amendment that earmarks a portion of any future sales tax increase for things like trails. Problem is, there is no enthusiasm to increase the sales tax. I'm currently researching some policy that I think has hampered bicycling in Wisconsin and think I will have a recommendation for either the next meeting of the Non-motorized Recreation and Transportation Trails Council or the Bike Fed, where the Advocacy Committee we served together on developing things like Complete Streets is, I'm told by the powers that be, about to be reconstituted. Where I am going might not only be politically palatable to a conservative administration, for reasons other than bicycling, but set us up with a guaranteed source of funding. Where I am headed will involve a major paradigm shift. Got my fingers crossed. Bill On 2/25/2015 6:03 PM, Michael Rewey wrote: > With bi-partisan and governor's support Iowa just raised their gas tax > a whopping 10 cents per gallon. > > Too bad that could not happen here so we can get balanced > transportation instead of just building for cars and trucks with bond > dollars. But of course a governor who is running for national office doesn't dare raise any taxes. > > We'll have to pay more for trail passes and state park passes to name > a few, but those are "user fees". In reality gas tax is a user fee also. You only pay if you use it. Frustrating.... > > Mike Rewey > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
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