CUTRlines Newsletter Fall 2012

Abreu receives 2012 CUTR Transportation Achievement Award

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he 2012 CUTR Transportation Achievement Awards event was held on November 1, 2012, in Tampa at the USF Embassy Suites.

Honored this year was José Abreu, P.E., Director of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department. He oversees operations of the Miami International Airport (MIA) and four general aviation airports in Miami, managing a $6.4 billion infrastructure improvement program at MIA and Dade County’s general aviation airports. Prior to his José Abreu, P.E. appointment at MIA in 2005, he served as Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for two and a half years, the culmination of an 18-year career at FDOT. A graduate of the University of Miami, Abreu is a licensed professional engineer and a certified engineering contractor and the recipient of numerous state and national awards. In

Shared bicycle/bus lanes project

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wo CUTR researchers recently completed a project entitled “A Summary of Design, Policies, and Operational Characteristics for Shared Bicycle/Bus Lanes.” Sara Hendricks and Edward Hillsman presented the results of this study at the

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Vol 22. No 2. 2012 3 Aviation research at CUTR

6 Bittner appointed to NITC Board

9 Tampa Bay Clean Cities Coalition

4 CUTR adopts new Strategic Plan

7 Commuting in America IV

10 CUTR in Efficiency Study

5 Best Workplaces for CommutersSM

7 Bittner featured in On Point

10 NCTR awards project funding

6 Motorcycle Safety Coalition

8 2012 FPTA/FDOT/CUTR workshop

11 CUTR supports revenue effort

2012 CUTR Awards—continued from cover­

shared bicycle/bus lanes—continued from cover­

2008, he was appointed by the U.S. Commerce Secretary to serve on the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

FDOT/FPTA/CUTR Professional Development Workshop in June 2012 and at a recent CUTR webinar.

The event program included keynote speaker Ananth Prasad, P.E., current Secretary of FDOT, and guest speaker Gus Pego, P.E., FDOT District 6 Secretary. USF College of Engineering Dean John Wiencek and Provost Ralph Wilcox also provided remarks. The 2012 Georgia Brosch Memorial Transportation Scholarship was presented to Qing Wang and Kyle Taniguchi. Event details and photos are available at http://cutr.usf.edu.

CUTR extends special thanks to this year’s event sponsors: American Airlines, Atkins, Flagler, Florida Public Transportation Association, Florida Transportation Builders’ Association, Gannett Fleming, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit, HNTB Corporation, Holtzman Group, Miami-Dade Aviation Department, Odebrecht Construction, Parsons, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority, Tampa Steel Erecting, Veolia, Williams Law Group, and WRSCompass.

CUTRlines Vol. 22, No. 2, 2012 CUTRlines is produced three times per year by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida’s College of Engineering to inform the public and private sectors about its research and professional activities.  CUTR 2012

Text provided by Steve Wagner. Design by Wendy Teague. Some CUTR researchers also contributed material for this issue.

CUTR was created to find cost-effective, state-of-the-art solutions to transportation problems. CUTR’s expertise in policy analysis, planning, engineering, economics, geography, safety, and communications offers innovative solutions to public and private sector organizations nationwide.

For more information, contact: Jason Bittner, CUTR Director College of Engineering, University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave., CUT100,Tampa, FL 33620 (813) 974-3120, fax 974-5168 E-mail: jjbittner@cutr.usf.edu www.cutr.usf.edu

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After surveying the characteristics of shared bicycle/bus lane (SBBLs) implementations in the urban core and in low-density suburban areas around the world, they detailed the main problems found with the current set of SBBL designs and implementations. These problems include larger volumes of right-turning vehicles in the SBBL and enforcement of the preferential treatment of buses and bicycles in the lane.

The project team delved deeper into the problems created by interactions of bicycles and buses in the SBBL, most often to do with the physical design of the SBBL and how bicycles behave while passing a slow-moving or stopped bus. They also provided design examples that mitigate this problem, including a wide-width SBBL, a narrow-width SBBL with an advisory bike lane, a hybrid model that combines a narrow-width SBBL with an advisory bike on the left, and a partial bus bay, and finally, a channel for cyclists fully separated from the SBBL by a traffic island.

The researchers also considered bus operator training required for safe operation in shared bus/bicycle lanes and the need for educating the motoring public and bicyclists about how motor vehicles and bicycles are meant to interact in the SBBL. As a result of these investigations, the research team was able to offer a number of conclusions. First, because many cities are attempting to provide improved multimodal service with a constrained right of way, shared bicycle/ bus lanes are likely to become more common. Second, it’s crucial that transit agencies be involved in the planning of shared lanes. And finally, more research is required to evaluate the safety and efficiency of different SBBL designs so that planners and engineers can rely on standards as well as their professional judgement.

For more information about this project and to read the final report, visit http://www.nctr.usf.edu/2012/07/a-summary-ofdesign-policies-and-operational-characteristics-for-sharedbicyclebus-lanes/.

Aviation research at CUTR

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he Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) has been conducting research on a wide range of aviation issues in Florida since 2005.

CUTR researchers collaborated with public and private stakeholders to produce the master plans for the Secure Airports for Florida’s Economy (SAFE) Council from 2005 to 2010. Each of these master plans focused on different aspects of how to fund and implement improvements to airport security in Florida in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the years following. The SAFE Council also funded a CUTR project that surveyed security practices of all publicly owned general aviation airports in Florida.

In 2005, CUTR researchers worked with the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority to assess the economic impact of Tampa International Airport. This study estimated the economic impact of airport operations and other related activities and also developed a methodology to estimate the impact of air cargo commodity movement on area industries. Researchers created a resource manual that provided guidance for airport managers and local elected officials

on the appropriate and allowable use of airport revenue.

This manual also included appendices with legal references for revenue diversion issues and a brief FAQ handout with questions and answers about revenue diversion.

CUTR has also developed guidelines for determining the fair market value (FMV) of airport property. These guidelines help airport managers and elected officials value airport property in ways consistent with the requirements of federal and state granting agencies, while also aiming to ensure the economic success of the airports. CUTR researchers are also heavily involved with the aviation research community nationally. Michael Audino is member of the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) speaker’s bureau, an ambassador for the ACRP, and had served on four ACRP project panels, three of which he chaired. In 2010 ACRP engaged CUTR to help disseminate research results and produce a series of Impacts on Practice publications.

Aviation researchers at CUTR have also worked closely with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on several projects, including those that identified opportuni-

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ties for district office staff to improve service to airports and that conducted a quality assurance review of more than 170 Joint Participation agreements with local airports. “CUTR’s applied aviation research has added value to airports of all sizes throughout Florida,” said Audino. “We intend to strengthen our partnerships with FDOT’s Aviation Office and the Florida Airports Council and expand our applied aviation research to help Florida’s airports solve more of their day-to-day operational challenges.”

CUTR also helps educate the next generation of airport managers with a Current Issues in Airport Management course, developed by Audino and taught at USF in the summers of 2011 and 2012. For more information about these projects, visit www.cutr.usf.edu.

Impacts on Practice

CUTR adopts a new strategic plan

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he Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) recently adopted a new strategic plan to support its mission, vision, and values.

In the coming years, CUTR will focus on a number of strategic initiatives, including financial sustainability, the delivery of cutting edge products and services, telling the CUTR story with greater power and impact, and adding other transportation modes to the CUTR customer base.

The Center will engage in these strategies while staying committed to its values, building and maximizing the capacity of its human resources, strengthening and leveraging partnerships within the University of South Florida, and creating and facilitating strategic partnerships with other universities.

“I am grateful for the hard work that the Planning Team has put into the development of the strategic plan,” said Bittner.

“The concepts will ensure that we are well positioned to

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grow, explore new areas, and protect our human resources for many years to follow.”

Throughout the Fall of 2012, CUTR will prioritize these strategic goals, present this plan to the Dean of the College of Engineering, and create employee team and action plans for priority goals. The Center aims to begin implementing this new strategic plan in October 2012.

The new CUTR strategic plan is the product of a good deal of hard work by the Strategic Plan Committee: CEE Professor Abdul Pinjari, CUTR Advisory Board Chair Kim DeBosier, Budget Analyst Arunima Bagui, TDM Program Director Phil Winters, Transit Training Program Director Lisa Staes, Planning and Corridor Development Program Director Kristine Williams, Transportation Program Evaluation and Economic Analysis Director Steve Reich, CUTR Sr. Associate Researcher Vicky Perk, and Transit Innovation and Management Program Director Rob Gregg. Michael Audino has guided and facilitated the effort.

Best Workplaces for CommutersSM

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ommuting to and from work is one of the prime causes of traffic congestion and air quality problems in many areas of the United States. Reducing the number of cars on our nation’s roadways will reduce traffic, increase air quality, and support an increased quality of life for both commuters and those that live near roadways.

For more information about Best Workplaces for CommutersSM, visit http://www.bestworkplaces.org/.

For more information about NCTR, visit http://www.nctr. usf.edu/.

Best Workplaces for CommutersSM (BWC) is a membership program that provides national recognition and an elite designation for employers offering commuter benefits aimed at reducing the number of commuter vehicles on the road.

NCTR has worked with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a National Standard of Excellence in commuter benefits. To meet this standard, employers must provide one primary benefit and three secondary benefits. Primary benefits include employer-paid tax-free transit or vanpool passes, teleworking, or parking cash-out.

Secondary benefits include shuttles to and from transit stations, ridesharing or carpool matching, and preferred or reduced-cost parking for carpools and vanpools, and compressed work schedules. In addition to offering primary and secondary benefits, all employers must offer access to an Emergency Ride Home service, which provides participants with a ride at little or no cost if they need emergency transport home due to special circumstances.

Employers that join Best Workplaces for CommutersSM and meet the Standard of Excellence receive national recognition for being commuter-friendly and socially responsible, a framed certificate, a listing on the BWC website, use of the BWC logo, publicity via press releases and social media, and the opportunity to compete in the yearly Race for Excellence.

Participating employers also receive a wide array of membership services, including web conferences and training, access to research and benchmarking, web-based tools for calculating financial, environmental, and traffic improvements, and opportunities for networking with peers and experts in the field. BWC also provides a help desk to answer program questions and support the efforts of member employers.

Best Workplaces for CommutersSM (BWC) is managed by the National Center for Transit Research, a Tier 1 University Transportation Center at the University of South Florida and one of only two transit-focused UTCs.

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Motorcycle Safety Coalition

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he Florida Motorcycle Safety Coalition (MSC) was recently established by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to implement the strategies identified in the Motorcycle Safety Strategic Plan (MSSP).

Work on the Motorcycle Safety Strategic Plan has been underway since 2008 and focuses on providing information about funding and resources for reducing motorcycle fatalities, serious injuries, and crashes. The MSSP gathered input from a wide range of public and private stakeholder groups, including the FDOT, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), the Florida Rider Training Program (FRTP), the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), state

and local law enforcement agencies, motorcycle advocacy groups and safety organizations, motorcycle dealers, and representatives of the insurance industry.

The Motorcycle Safety Coalition includes representatives from FDOT, DHSMV, FDOH, state and local law enforcement, emergency management, motorcycle safety interest groups, and motorcycle dealers. CUTR has been contracted to manage the MSC; the Center also provides research and presentation materials for coalition activities.

For more information about the Motorcycle Safety Strategic Plan and the Motorcycle Safety Coaltion, visit http://www. ridesmartflorida.com/motorcyclestratplan.htm.

Bittner appointed to NITC Board of Directors

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UTR Director Jason Bittner was recently appointed to the board of director of the National Institute for Transportation and Communities

The NITC conducts research and education projects to support livable urban communities of all sizes, with a vision of using transportation to foster larger social and economic goals. Nineteen NITC projects with a budget of $1.97 million focus on health and safety; cycling, walking, and transit; data, performance measures, and analytical tools; multimodal transportation and land use; and, emissions and climate change.

“I a m honored t o be selected to serve on this Board. NITC will serve an important role in advancing the body of knowledge on livable communities and this is a terrific opportunity to work collaboratively between our centers,” said Bittner. “Our transit focused and bicycle and pedestrian safety focused work complement NITC’s objectives.”

NITC is led by the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium (OTREC) at Portland State University in partnership with the University of Oregon, Oregon Institute of Technology, and the University of Utah.

For more information about the NITC, visit http://otrec. us/NITC.

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Polzin to lead Commuting in America IV

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teven Polzin, Director of the Mobility Policy Research Program at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR), has been selected to lead the Commuting in America IV project.

The Commuting in America IV project is part of the AASHTO Census Transportation Planning Products (CTPP) program. Commuting in America IV will build on previous study iterations to generate an authoritative analysis of commuting travel in the United States in order to understand and interpret American commuting behavior within the broad context of travel behavior, and produce an authoritative and objective statement of trends to benefit policy development by states, MPOs, the Administration and Congress.

“I am delighted that CUTR is able to play a lead role in this important report,” said Polzin. “Understanding travel behavior trends is critical to meeting current and future travel needs, particularly in light of the economic, demographic, technology, and cultural trends that are influencing travel behavior.”

Commuting in America IV will produce both an executive summary and a series of travel trend briefs. All report documents and supporting data will be available on the Internet. In addition, print copies of the executive summary will be available. For more information about the Commuting in America IV Steve Polzin, P.E. project and the Census Transportation Products program, visit http://ctpp.transportation.org.

About MRP The CUTR Mobility Policy program conducts a variety of policy-focused research initiatives targeted to blending knowledge of the technical, political, and social aspects of transportation with appropriate research methods to gain a richer understanding of transportation and provide policy guidance for addressing transportation problems. For more information about this program, visit www.cutr.usf.edu/ programs-1/mobility-policy/.

Bittner featured in On Point

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UTR Director Jason Bittner has been invited to contribute to On Point, a multi-disciplinary blog that presents analysis and insight from top thinkers at the University of South Florida on topics related to their academic expertise and research.

Jason Bittner To date, Bittner has contributed two posts to On Point. In Transportation Bill Lacks Vision but Represents Progress, Bittner outlines the wins and losses in the most recently surface transportation bill: Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21). And, in Failure to Tell our Story Leads to Others Defining our Brand, Bittner talks about the importance of telling the story of Florida’s successes

in business, economic development, and transportation— instead of letting that story be told by others.

“On Point will develop into the ‘go to’ resource for USF experts. I’m pleased with the wide exposure to several views that the blog will allow,” said Bittner. “It also has resulted in published pieces in the Tampa Tribune and is linked from other leading sites. Other CUTR faculty will also start using the blog to advance discussions that we couldn’t achieve through our individual website alone. It is a good example of CUTR providing input and collaborating with other parts of campus.”

To read On Point, visit http://onpoint.blog.usf.edu/.

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Public transportation professionals convene in Tampa for professional development

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ore than 200 Florida public transportation professionals attended this year’s FDOT/FPTA/CUTR professional development workshop, held on June 5-6, 2012 in in Tampa, Florida. The workshop, sponsored by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA), and Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) offered public transportation professionals an opportunity to learn from industry experts, attend professional development training, learn about research updates, and network with their peers. Workshop attendees participated in educational training classes and general session discussions that stimulated new ideas and identified creative solutions to problem solving and strategic planning.

The workshop offered unique professional development and educational enrichment opportunities to public transportation professionals. It drew professionals from more than 29 Florida urban and rural public transportation systems as well as FDOT, consultants, vendors, and many other FPTA members.

The general session luncheon on June 6, 2012 focused on workforce and professional development in the public transportation industry. Expert presenters from FDOT and CUTR talked about the importance of workforce development and described research findings that demonstrated the value of investing in employee development, retention, and how the return on that investment can aid in improving performance, attitude, and commitment to the organization.

Professional development is one of the tools for success. This workshop encouraged participants to network, ask questions, and integrate critical thinking skills to problem solve and learn new concepts and ideas. The fact that so many Florida public transportation professionals participated in this workshop speaks to the dedication, commitment and resolve of this industry to meet both current and future challenges.

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Tampa Bay Clean Cities Coalition

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he newly reformed Tampa Bay Clean Cities Coalition was launched on August 14, 2012 with a signing ceremony and inaugural gathering at the Patel Center for Global Solutions on the campus of the University of South Florida. Stephen Reich, director of the Transportation Team Evaluation and Economic Analysis program at USF’s Center for Urban Transportation Studies, will serve as the coalition’s coordinator.

“We are very pleased with this emerging partnership with the Patel School of Global Sustainability, CUTR, Hillsborough EPC, and TECO,” said Reich. “While this is only a start, all of the sectors that will help make this a successful effort are involved at the ground level.”

The coalition’s first step will be to complete a series of tasks required by the US Department of Energy to be designated as a federal Clean Cities Coalition member. This designation will enable the region to compete for funding opportunities that promote cleaner fuels and provide the coalition with access to a wide range of technical, media, and support resources. Reich estimates that this process should take about a year.

The Clean Cities Coalition program is conducted by the US Department of Energy. More than one hundred Clean Cities Coalitions have been established across the United States, each of which fosters regional communication, information sharing, and public education on the benefits of reducing petroleum use.

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CUTR involved in Transportation Efficiency Study

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wo researchers from CUTR’s Transportation Program Evaluation and Economic Analysis Program—Director Stephen Reich and Deputy Director Janet Davis— will be involved in the Study of Cost Savings for Expressway Authorities.

This project will be conducted under the auspices of the Florida Transportation Commission and led by Cambridge Systematics, Inc. It aims to study the potential for cost savings that might be realized through increased efficiencies through shared resources in the design, construction, and maintenance activities by or on behalf of expressway authorities in the state of Florida.

NCTR awards funding for new projects

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Improved Traffic Control Measures to Prevent Incorrect Turns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings and Pilot Testing

Impacts of Dialysis Transportation On Florida’s Coordinated Public Transportation Programs

Analysis of Transit Contracting Models and Proper Incentives for Long-term Success

Evaluation of Rear-end Bus Collisions and Identifying Possible Solutions and Assessing the Effectiveness of Bus Pull Out Bays in Reducing Collisions

Bus Operator Safety Research

Best Practices in Enhancing Transit in Multimodal Transportation Elements

Stephen Reich

Janet Davis

“We have performed work for all of the agencies involved as well as the Commission,” said Reich. “We look forward to providing objective analysis and findings to our partners at Cambridge for consideration by Commission and the Legislature.”

The study is being performed in response to a state legislative requirement that the issues surrounding cost savings and efficiencies for Florida’s state toll entities be investigated and reported by January 1, 2013. For more information about the FTC, visit www.ftc.state.fl.us.

he National Center for Transit Research (NCTR) recently awarded funding for new projects.

These projects are conducted with matching funding from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Matching funds for these twelve projects totals more than $1.7 million.

The National Center for Transit Research is one of 22 national University Transportation Centers (UTCs) and funded by the US DOT Research and Administrative Technology Administration. NCTR, one of only two UTCs focused on public transportation, is a consortium of four universities led by the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research and includes the Lehman Center for Transportation Research at Florida International University, the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the Small Urban and Rural Transportation Center at North Dakota State University.

For more information about NCTR and its projects, visit http://www.nctr.usf.edu/.

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CUTR provides strong support in revenue effort

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enior researchers at CUTR provided analysis, extensive research, scores of revenue forecasts, and staff support for an effort led by Florida’s Metropolitan Planning Organizations to assess transportation funding in Florida and to develop a series of legislative recommendations. The effort was underway for almost two years, culminating in the drafting of legislation on six initiatives to address Florida’s transportation funding situation.

The Met ropolitan Plan ning Organization Advisory Council (MPOAC) has for several years been concerned with the level of funding for transportation investments in Florida and embarked on legislative initiatives in 2008 and 2009 to have the issue addressed by a blue ribbon commission. These bills, while sponsored by legislators, found little traction due in part to the political unwillingness to propose additional public funding. In 2010 the organization took action to pursue an in-depth examination of the state of transportation revenues with an eye towards recommendations in the form of legislative actions. CUTR was engaged by the MPOAC after its governing board decided to pool funds from each of the organizations in order to finance the effort. Mr. Howard Glassman, Executive Director of the MPOAC, acted as the Project Manager. A Revenue Study Advisory Committee was established that includes Florida Airports Council, Florida Transportation Builders Association, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida League of Cities, Floridians for Better Transportation, Florida Association of Counties, The Nature Conservancy in Florida, Florida Trucking Association, Florida Ports Council, MPOAC Governing Board, Florida Transportation Commission, American Public Works Association, Florida Chapter, Florida Public Transportation Association and the Florida Regional Councils Association. Mr. Michael Howe, Executive Director of the Sarasota-Manatee MPO served as the Chair of the

stakeholder group. The Committee deliberated at several key points in the process before issues or recommendations were passed along to the MPO Staff Directors and then to the MPOAC Governing Board. The Governing Board is comprised of an elected official from each of Florida’s 26 Metropolitan Planning Organizations.

A study process was developed along with a project schedule.

MPOAC Revenue Study Process

Providing the analysis and staff support from CUTR were Jan Davis, Stephen Reich, and Brady Sneath (who was brought on temporarily to assist with effort). Briefings and updates to the Study Advisory Committee, MPOAC Directors and the MPOAC Governing Board were provided separately on a quarterly basis during the conduct of the study.

After a situational analysis was performed, a white paper on recent funding trends, pressures on funding sources and estimations of Florida’s surface transportation needs was developed. The paper can be accessed at http://www.mpoac. org/revenuestudy/Situational_Analysis.pdf . The results of this phase of the study documented the stresses being placed on the Federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and the Florida’s State Transportation Trust Fund (STTF).

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Federal Surface Transportation Funding

Efficiency

Over 90 percent of the revenues available for federal surface transportation funding come from the 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel fuel taxes.

These rates have not been adjusted since 1997. With heavy reliance of the HTF on these sources, federal transportation receipts are driven by vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and vehicle fleet efficiency, as both of these determine fuel use.

Given that the tax is assessed on a per gallon basis and is not automatically adjusted for inflation results in an erosion of the buying power of the HTF as well.

The Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standards for passenger cars has remained at 27.5 miles per gallon (mpg) since 1985 and for light trucks has risen modestly from 19.5 mpg to 23.1 mpg for the same period. In 2010, both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation through the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) published final rules affecting the light duty vehicle and medium duty passenger vehicle (passenger vehicles from 8,500 to 10,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) fleet efficiency.

Vehicle Miles Traveled

Expressed in grams per mile, the new standards for green The recession resulted in absolute decline in VMT for the house gases (GHGs) will differ by a vehicle’s size or “footfirst time in decades. Increased fuel prices and high employprint” and are in place for the model year 2012 vehicle ment continue to keep the growth modest. Post recession, production run. The new GHG standards average a CO2 many planners do not expect a return to the growth of the emission rate of 250 grams per mile by model year 2016 with ‘80s and ‘90s as the economic recovery is predicted to be an estimated mpg equivalent of 35.5 for the combination slow and the country has reached a point of saturation for of light duty trucks and passenger automobiles. Rules that some factors that drove annual VMT growth rates. The apply to 2017 and beyond are being finalized and include number of vehicles registered already exceeds the number of eligible drivers, Inflation Effects and a stable work Federal Motor Fuel Tax History, Actual and Adjusted Rates week has emerged without appreciable additional free time to add to leisure travel demand. The Federal Highway Administration has been predicting modest rates of growth for passenger vehicles, although truck traffic growth rates are estimated to increase.

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a similar approach for heavy-duty vehicles. Less fuel on a per mile basis will be consumed resulting in fewer dollars per mile traveled going to the HTF.

Inflation and Other Impacts Without adjustment since 1993, the current federal fuel taxes have the same buying power as they had years before the most recent adjustment. The accompanying graph illustrates the point that when adjusted for inflation, per gallon contributions to reinvestment in transportation are at levels equal to those in the mid 1980s and mid 1970s.

Another stress to federal HTF is the fact the payments from the fund have been exceeding the income because of spending levels in the last multi-year transportation act.

The HTF balance has been in a precipitous decline that has required federal general fund infusions to ensure its solvency ($8 billion in September 2008, $7 billion in August of 2009, and $14 billion in April 2010). In addition, due to various political factors, the current surface transportation authorization expired at the end of federal fiscal year 2009.

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU) authorized an annual average of $38.6 billion for highway and transit programs nationally.

The effects of the impacts of VMT stagnation, increased fleet fuel efficiency, inflationary pressures, along with authorization levels, have led to a precarious situation for the HTF.

State Transportation Funding In Florida, the State Transportation Trust Fund receipts from fuel taxes make up 68 percent of the revenue portfolio, they are indexed to offset the impacts of inflation each January. Based on movement in the Consumer Price Index, Florida’s Highway Fuel Sales Tax (currently at 12.6 cents per gallon and the State Comprehensive Enhanced Transportation System Tax (SCETS tax now at 6.9 cents per gallon) are adjusted annually. The other major sources are not, however, and their buying power does diminish over time.

The heavy reliance on a “cents per gallon” fuel tax is resulting in pressures on the State Transportation Trust Fund and reductions in projected revenue because of an increasingly fuel efficient vehicle f leet.

State Trust Fund Transportation Trust Fund Pressures While vehicle miles Variables Affecting the Purchasing Power of Transportation Revenues traveled (VMT) are currently down, official projections for the postrecession period are for a return to steady growth in Florida. This will result in VMT growing 82 percent for the period Fiscal Year 1999/00 to 2019/20, while fuel tax revenues grow at an anemic 8 percent for the same period.

Source: FDOT 2009 Source Book of Florida Highway Data, Oct 2011 REC & 2012-2025 CAFE Preliminary Estimate

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Although the study sponsors did not want to spend time on a new calculation of transportation needs, CUTR researchers looked back at unfunded needs that had been calculated in the Long Range Transportation Plans for Florida’s metropolitan areas. When the totals for these unfunded needs are converted to inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars, the statewide metropolitan unfunded need is estimated at over $3 billion annually.

Another approach was used by CUTR in order to provide context to the MPOAC without recalculating a needs figure that would be not be realistic to fund and could be considered suspect. An examination of investment levels was performed that looked at state transportation investment on a vehicle mile traveled basis. The study period for this work being from Fiscal Year 1999/00 to 2019/20; the investment per VMT was compared to the expected revenue coming to the STTF. Over the 20-year period, $12 billion would be needed just to invest at the same levels as in FY 1999/00.

Local Funding Although the focus of this study was to examine state revenue sources, several local funding issues emerged.

Cities and counties in Florida also rely heavily on taxes on highway fuel. There are local option gasoline taxes that may be levied at the county level, and there are three different fuel taxes collected by the State for distribution to the counties and municipalities. None of the rates for these fuel assessments are adjusted for inflation. For example, the “County Fuel Tax” at one cent per gallon was established in 1941 and would at 15 cents if had been indexed to the CPI.

Revenue Options At the MPOAC meeting in the spring of 2011, a list of potential transportation revenue funding actions that had been recommended by the Revenue Study Advisory Committee (RSAC) was approved for detailed analysis. While this list totaled 16, the combinations and permutations for which analysis was ultimately required totaled 58.

At their fourth meeting in September 2011, the RSAC met for a day long workshop to arrive at the list of recommended

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actions to be presented to the MPOAC. At that meeting, CUTR presented the results of their analysis on the 16 options in various forms and the RSAC deliberated and settled on 14 for consideration by the MPOAC Governing Board as their recommendation for legislative action to address the State’s transportation funding issues. At an April 26, 2012 meeting, the MPOAC Staff Directors and Governing Board approved, with one dissenting vote, to transmit information to the legislature and Governor on the State’s unfunded transportation needs and the 14 options to reduce the funding shortfall. They also endorsed the top six revenue options for legislative action to implement those items.

Options for which legislation was drafted are:

Vehicle Miles Traveled Study (VMT) This recommendation is to have the Legislature commission and fund an extensive effort to deal with the systemic issues of fuel taxes becoming less sustainable as a primary surrogate for a transportation user fee. While fuel taxes served as an adequate substitute for a true user fee for decades, significant increases in mandated vehicle fuel efficiency along with the introduction of all electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are eroding transportation revenues.

It is recognized that there are significant concerns over the concept of charging users of the highway system based on each mile traveled. These include the privacy of citizens, the cost of implementing such a system, and institutional issues associated with revenue sharing. This effort is intended to address these issues at a minimum, deploy a demonstration of the concept and develop a business plan and implementation roadmap to move Florida to a VMT-based system.

Return Motor Vehicle License, Registration and Titling Fee Increases to the State Transportation Trust Fund This recommendation would redirect the increases in the fees that were enacted in 2009 from the State General Revenue Fund to the STTF. These fees have historically been dedicated to the transportation system as a method to further the concept of user fees supporting the transportation system. After a 20-year hiatus of fee adjustments (30 years for registration fees), they were raised in 2009 with the incremental revenue being used to help solve the general

budget crisis due to the economic recession. With increasing pressures on transportation funding sources coupled with growing needs, action was taken in the 2012 session of the Florida Legislature to restore a portion of these traditional STTF funds. While most Title Fees will be remitted to the STTF, yielding about $200 million per year, the Motor Vehicle License Fee and Surcharge increases along with the Initial Registration Fee increase are recommended to be returned as well. The annual estimated revenue impact to the STTF is $413 million.

One Cent Municipal Optional Sales Tax Under current Florida Statute, Charter Counties and those included in a Regional Transportation Authority district may elect to impose up to a one percent sales tax on items up to $5,000 with revenues available for transportation uses. This option would extend that flexibility to cities with a population of 150,000 or more, but could not be duplicative of any County transportation sales tax. For example, today Miami-Dade County voters have approved a one-half percent sales tax. If the City of Miami wanted to put this in place, it would be limited to an additional one-half percent.

In counties without a city with a population of 150,000, the option would be available to the largest municipality in that county based on the latest available census. If fully implemented, it could generate approximately $830 million to cities in total.

Index All Fuel Taxes not Currently Indexed In addition to the State taxes mentioned above, there are several different local option taxes levied on a per gallon basis in addition to the Constitutional Fuel Tax (2 cents per gallon), County Fuel Tax (1 cent per gallon) and the Municipal Fuel Tax (1 cent per gallon). The Constitutional, County, and Municipal taxes are collected by the State for distribution to local governments. None of these or the local option fuel tax is indexed to the CPI. This option would index them on the same basis as the State Fuel Sales Tax and the SCETS, providing local governments with the same inflation hedge enjoyed by the STTF and generating approximately $115 million annually for investment in transportation infrastructure. Some of these user fees have not been adjusted since the 1940s.

Five Cent Local Diesel Tax Local option tax rates are fixed in state law to provide diesel fuel tax rate consistency among counties for purposes of administering the provisions of the International Fuel Tax Agreement. The local option diesel tax rate is currently 7 cents per gallon, while the statewide average for local option gasoline taxes has risen to 9.6 cents per gallon. There has long been recognition that a higher per gallon rate on diesel fuel is appropriate, as the major users of the fuel are heavy trucks. For example, the federal gasoline tax is 18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents for diesel because of the distinction of the demands that are placed on the highway system by heavy trucks and light duty vehicles. This option would establish an additional five cent diesel fuel tax in each county, and the revenues would be required to be expended on projects that serve or enhance commercial highway traffic. This dedicated local source of funding could be used to encourage economic development and improve existing commercial operations. It is estimated to generate about $72 million per year to Florida’s counties.

Two Cent Fuel Tax Increase per Year – 5 Years (10 cents) Indexed for Inflation Implementation would raise the State Highway Fuels Sales Tax from the current rate of 12.6 cents per gallon by 2 cents per year for the next five years for a total 10 cent increase.

This tax is currently adjusted annually by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as is the SCETS tax which is currently at 6.9 cents per gallon. Additional revenues of approximately $183 million in 2013 growing to $1.17 billion by 2020 are forecasted for the State Transportation Trust Fund (STTF).

A more extensive description of these and the other revenue options are contained in the Policy Briefs that can be accessed at http://www.mpoac.org/revenuestudy/ MPOAC_Revenue_Breifs.pdf.

CUTR researchers have published a final report on this initiative that is also available on the MPOAC’s website. For more information on this project or the recommendations, please contact Stephen L. Reich at reich@cutr.usf.edu.

CUTRlines, Vol. 22, No. 2, 2012

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Center for Urban Transportation Research College of Engineering, University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, CUT100 Tampa, FL 33620-5375

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