Latest news with #TransportationCommittee
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Boston Globe
Connecticut reforms towing laws to protect drivers from predatory practices
The bill, which Advertisement 'It's reform that ensures transparency, it ensures fairness and accountability, but does all of this without undercutting the essential work that ethical and professional tow operators do each and every day for us, keeping our roads safe and our properties accessible,' said Transportation Committee Co-chair Sen. Christine Cohen, D-Guilford. 'We've learned over the years, and particularly over the last year due to some investigative reporting, of some particularly egregious circumstances.' A spokesperson for Gov. Ned Lamont said the governor plans to sign the bill into law. Republican Sen. Tony Hwang, ranking member of the Transportation Committee, also spoke in favor of the bill. The bill got about a half hour of debate ahead of passage, and there were no comments in opposition. Hwang, who represents Fairfield, said the bill strikes the right balance between the interests of towers and consumers. Advertisement 'I want to acknowledge that our press had an important part to bring out transparency and some of the bad actions, and I think in this bill we address some of those issues,' Hwang said. 'We took measures to ensure that there is due process, and what has been discovered to have occurred in a criminal action, I believe, should never, ever happen again, to undermine the trust that we have to have in this process.' Connecticut's law allows tow companies to begin the process to sell vehicles after just 15 days. CT Mirror and ProPublica found that it is one of the shortest windows in the nation, and that the law has particularly impacted people with low incomes. Reporters spoke with people who said towing companies required them to pay in cash or wouldn't allow them to get personal belongings out of their vehicles. Many couldn't afford to get their towed vehicles back and lost transportation or jobs because of it. After weeks of negotiations, lawmakers said they came to a compromise with the towing industry. Two bills were merged to include massive reforms to towing procedures from private property and rate increases for highway tows that typically follow car accidents. The bill that passed and would take effect Oct. 1 requires tow companies to accept credit cards and doesn't allow them to tow vehicles immediately just because of an expired parking permit or registration. Vehicles can't be towed from private property without notice unless they're blocking traffic, fire hydrants or parked in an accessible spot. Under the bill, towing companies can still start the sales process for vehicles worth $1,500 or less after 15 days, but they would now have to take more steps to give the owner a chance to claim the vehicle. The Department of Motor Vehicles would be required to check whether the driver filed any complaints about the tow before approving the sale, and the tower would have to send a notice ahead of the sale to the registered owner and lienholders via certified mail, with receipts of delivery. Advertisement The actual sale couldn't go through until 30 days after the tow. The bill also requires that towers take at least two photos before they tow a vehicle — one of the violation that resulted in a tow and another of any damage to the vehicle. Cohen said this would help determine if vehicles had any missing parts before the tow, a seeming nod to the news organizations' story about a DMV employee who the agency's investigators found schemed with a towing company to The bill also establishes a working group to study how to handle proceeds from the sales of towed vehicles. State law requires that towing companies hold profits in escrow for a year in case the vehicle owner claims them, then remit that money to the state. But CT Mirror and ProPublica found Additionally, it calls for the DMV to work with the state's attorney general to develop a consumer bill of rights on towing. Advertisement Tow companies have to be available after hours and on weekends to allow people to get their vehicles or personal property. In a story published this month, CT Mirror and ProPublica reported that Under the new law, drivers will be allowed to retrieve their belongings from their vehicles, even if they haven't paid the towing fees. State regulations currently allow vehicle owners to retrieve only 'personal property which is essential to the health or welfare of any person.' Cohen listed many of the issues outlined in the news outlets' reporting as 'some of the worst abuses of predatory towing practices.' Timothy Vibert, president of Towing and Recovery Professionals of Connecticut, said the industry initially opposed the bill because towers believed it would impede their ability to tow cars and clear traffic. He also said towers weren't involved enough in the original draft. But they worked with lawmakers on the bill over several weeks, and he issued a statement in support this week. 'The people of Connecticut deserve safety, accountability and transparency when their cars are towed, and so do the people who work for Connecticut's towing companies who risk our lives every day to make our roads safe,' Vibert said. 'We all need clear, easy-to-follow rules.' DMV Commissioner Tony Guerrera commended the House and Senate. 'The DMV fully supports this initiative, as it not only enhances the framework for fair and equitable enforcement of towing laws but also provides a clear path forward for our agency to advance these efforts,' Guerrera said in a statement. Cohen said that the bill aims to 'fix a broken process,' and that lawmakers had worked on some aspects of it for years before the bill passed. Advertisement News of the bill's passage brought relief to Melissa Anderson, who was featured in a CT Mirror and ProPublica story after her car was towed and sold from her Hamden apartment because of an expired parking permit. The bill requires a 72-hour grace period before a car can be towed for an expired parking sticker to allow people time to get a new one. 'I'm glad we made a difference,' Anderson said. 'This is going to help a lot of people.' The bill next heads to Lamont's desk. 'The Governor appreciates all the work that went into this legislation, which provides greater protections for the public and their vehicles,' Lamont's spokesperson, Rob Blanchard, said in a text message. 'He plans on signing the legislation once it reaches his desk.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Effort to explore passenger train to Bangor derailed after senators leave bill in limbo
Passengers board an Amtrak train at the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania station. (Photo b y Peter Hall/Capital-Star) Despite the impassioned pleas of a handful of lawmakers, the Maine Legislature essentially killed a proposal to further explore extending passenger rail to Bangor. After multiple failed votes, the Senate decided Thursday to indefinitely postpone LD 487, which rail advocates rallied behind this session as a means to bring passenger trains beyond southern Maine. The House of Representatives rejected the proposal Tuesday with a 93-52 vote, but the upper chamber has been at an impasse since senators were divided over the measure. 'This has been indefinitely postponed for 20-plus years,' said Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot) on the Senate floor Thursday, referring to the years-long effort to expand passenger rail in the state. This bill sought to have the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority apply for federal funding to identify a potential passenger rail corridor from Portland through Auburn, Lewiston, Waterville, Bangor and ending in Orono. Among the members of the Legislature's Transportation Committee, only one supported it with the other 12 in opposition. During the House debate, Rep. Lydia Crafts (D-Newcastle), who co-chairs the Transportation Committee, admitted there is public interest in expanding mass transit in the state, but said LD 487 doesn't align with the state's rail plan. She argued it wouldn't make financial sense for the state to invest in the line and eventually subsidize the cost of tickets because a propensity study indicated that the particular route would have low ridership. Rather, she said that study recommended the state invest in flexible, accessible bus service such as the two-year pilot project currently underway, which runs between Lewison and Portland. Sen. Brad Farrin (R-Somerset) made similar points on the Senate floor, saying that the state will continue to grow rail at a 'reasonable and responsible' rate if it follows the plan it has in place. However, Rep. Tavis Hasenfus (D-Readfield), the bill's sponsor, said the propensity study is a couple years old and doesn't account for improvements that have since been made to those tracks, which could reduce costs for the state. He also said it didn't account for all potential riders, only those who would have taken a car. But talking about what the state would have to spend is getting ahead of what LD 487 sought to do, Hasenfus argued. As he explained on the House floor, his proposal simply asked the Department of Transportation to apply for the federal funding to investigate whether a passenger rail line to northern Maine is feasible. The proposal specifically asks for the state to apply to the Federal Railroad Administration's corridor identification and development program, which is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Meeting the deadline for this application cycle is vital because the $1.2 trillion law isn't guaranteed to be renewed, especially since President Donald Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office pausing the disbursement of funds under the law. 'The train is literally about to leave the station and if we don't get on board now, we may never have the opportunity in the future,' Hasenfus said Tuesday. Cost shouldn't be the barrier that some see it as, Baldacci said during Senate floor discussions earlier this week, because the state should have been making passenger rail investments gradually over time. He said the whole state deserves to be connected and has a right to transportation options that already exist in southern Maine. LD 487 doesn't call for a significant financial investment by the state at this point, he said, it just asks lawmakers to utilize the options available to move the process forward. Rep. Karen Montell (D-Gardiner) spoke in support of the bill, arguing that increased train options could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and road maintenance costs. She said that passenger rail could help build a Maine that is more 'future ready.' Rep. Laura Supica (D-Bangor) agreed, saying that central and northern Maine could use passenger rail infrastructure so people can have easier access to jobs and education. She said this is especially true for her community of Bangor, which can feel like 'a bit of a vortex' and disconnected from the rest of the state. Hasenfus also cited a study the Rail Passengers Association published earlier this month that found extending the Amtrak Downeaster service to Bangor could generate more than $60 million in annual economic benefits for all 16 counties and draw more than 260,000 in the first year of service. Having ridden it multiple times himself, Sen. James Libby (R-Cumberland) called the Downeaster a 'tremendous service.' Though he acknowledged it could ultimately cost money, he said he supported the measure as expanded rail service would be an asset for towns like Waterville, where he works as a professor at Thomas College. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' would kill tax incentive that's powered EV sales. What to know
President Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' spans 1,116 pages. Some of those pages include serious cuts to clean energy incentives in a number of sectors such as transportation. In an effort to reduce emissions produced by gas-powered vehicles, the federal government began to offer Americans an electric vehicle tax credit of up to $7,500 during the Obama administration. This made pricey electric vehicles more affordable and accessible to average American drivers. Among Trump's and House Republicans' 'Big, Beautiful Bill' proposals is a measure to kill the tax credit over the next few years. Section 112002 on page 30 of the One Big, Beautiful Bill document is titled "Termination of clean vehicle credit." The credit was originally set to expire December 21, 2032. A provision in the bill "accelerates the expiration to December 31, 2025." Americans would lose the ability to claim the EV tax credit in 2026. The bill also targets EV and hybrid vehicle owners, under a proposal from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that calls for annual fees, according to MarketWatch. Electric vehicle owners could be charged $250 annually and hybrid owners could be charged $100 annually if the bill is passed. So, why the attack on electric vehicles and what does this mean for car buyers? The President has been taking aim at EVs for years and openly expressed his disdain for former President Biden's mandate demanding automakers electrify a large percentage of their portfolios by 2030. Trump has said that Biden's , electric vehicle mandate would cause 40% of all U.S. auto jobs to disappear, a statement which a non-profit research website, found no evidence to back up. President Trump is not an electric vehicle advocate, despite his proximity to Tesla CEO and Senior Advisor Elon Musk. Instead, the President is a huge supporter of the oil and gas industry. His pledge to "drill, baby, drill" was one of the major talking points during his campaign trail. If the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' eventually gets passed it could be the end of an era for American car buyers who strategically used the tax credit to purchase vehicles. The tax credit made popular electric vehicles like the Tesla Model Y affordable for many drivers. Eliminating it could severely impact EV sales across the industry. If EVs are suddenly less affordable, they could become less desirable to many consumers. The Chevrolet Equinox EV is $26,100 with the tax incentive. Remove the incentive and its starting price is $33,600 before taxes and additional fees. The Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck starts at $55,495 before taxes and fees with the EV tax credit. Without the incentive, its price is $62,995. The existence of the tax credit is a huge selling-point for many popular EVs. The passage of the bill as is would mean electric vehicles are about to get much more expensive. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill plans end to electric vehicle tax credit
Chicago Tribune
13-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Kane County Board approves five-year transportation plan
On Tuesday, the Kane County Board passed its five-year plan for transportation projects to be completed within the county in the coming years. The plan, which accounts for fiscal years 2025 to 2029, includes over 150 projects at different stages in the improvement process, according to documents included in Tuesday's meeting agenda. The county's share of the cost over the next five years amounts to just under $540 million, with more than 70% going toward projects that are obligated or required due to safety and maintenance reasons, agreements and federal funding commitments. This year's list includes no new projects, according to the summary of the resolution from Tuesday's meeting agenda, due to 'funding constraints.' The plan is expected to be updated throughout the year. According to the summary of the resolution, just over half of the projects are expansions, a number of which are taking place at Randall Road intersections in the county, per an April presentation to the Transportation Committee about the five-year plan. About 30% of the projects are maintenance for pavement, bridges and more, the resolution summary says. There are also a number of projects related to intersection safety, and a few bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects. The Transportation Improvement Program for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 was presented to the county's Transportation Committee at its March 18 meeting, and then passed by the committee on April 15. It was then OK'd by the full board Tuesday as part of the meeting's consent agenda. But it remains to be seen how the county settles its financial woes, as it continues to grapple with a looming shortfall and starts the budgeting process for next year. And county funds are not the only possible shortfall on the horizon. Kane County's transportation services could also be impacted in the near future by an impending budget gap from the Regional Transportation Authority. Residents in Chicago and the surrounding areas could see the elimination of bus routes, fare increases and a reduction in Metra train services, among other cuts, if lawmakers do not fill a $771 million budget gap expected to hit the region's four transit agencies as early as next year when the remainder of COVID-19 funding is used up, according to past reporting. Also on the table is a possible consolidation of the RTA, the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace suburban bus system, an idea the RTA opposes and that, according to past reporting, has faced pushback from suburban groups and elected officials who believe consolidation would limit suburban input on transit in the future.
E&E News
12-05-2025
- Business
- E&E News
Senate panel to kick-start push on pipeline safety bill
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing this week to take the first step in renewing a long-delayed effort to get new, bipartisan pipeline safety legislation to the president's desk. The Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines and Safety will meet Thursday to collect fresh input from industry players and advocates eager to see Congress extend the authorization for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the federal government's chief pipeline safety regulator. 'PHMSA … plays a key role in unleashing America's energy independence and ensuring Americans have access to reliable, safe and affordable energy,' said subcommittee Chair Todd Young (R-Ind.). 'I look forward to hearing more about pipeline operations in the U.S. and ways these operations can be improved as we begin to draft a pipeline safety reauthorization bill.' Advertisement The safety agency, part of the Department of Transportation, crafts and enforces regulations for 3.3 million miles of pipeline and shipments of hazardous materials across the nation.
