Dear KTFC member or friend:
Lately I’ve noticed quite a number of articles on the idea of charging a fee for packages delivered by Amazon, UPS, Door Dash, and even ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. The revenue would be used to fund transportation improvements.
The reasons for the media coverage are, first of all, it’s kind of a new idea, and delivery services are a rapidly growing segment of the economy. Second, it would be a genuine user fee – avail yourself of the convenience, or drive yourself. Third, the amount of the fee would not need to be large. Is it worth a dollar to have a product delivered?
Given the growth in the home delivery economy, the idea could go a long way toward generating considerable revenue to fund transportation, a nominal cost to individual consumers. We’ll see how it plays out, but at first glance it could be an idea worth exploring.
Be of Good Cheer,
— The Wolff
TRANSPORTATION ISSUE UPDATE
- When Gov. Tom Wolf set up a commission in March to review how transportation should be funded in Pennsylvania, he encouraged members to think outside the box. Instead, they’re thinking about the box itself.
- SEPTA crews will work around-the-clock for 17 days in the Trolly Tunnel Blitz July 9-26, tackling critical track and power maintenance, station upgrades, and intensive cleaning as part of the initiative.
- More than 80 police agencies are patrolling for aggressive drivers through Aug. 22. During the enforcement effort, officers will be on the lookout for red light running, tailgating, pedestrian safety, heavy truck violations, driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, or other aggressive driving behaviors.
- Amtrak plans to spend $7.3 billion to replace 83 passenger trains, some nearly a half-century old, though much of the funding must still be approved by Congress.
- Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday that 50 municipalities will receive more than $15.6 million to support traffic signal upgrades, increasing mobility and efficiency across Pennsylvania’s communities through PennDOT’s “Green Light-Go” program.
- Tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will rise another 5% in January, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission decided Tuesday. The agency board voted to impose the higher rates as of Jan. 2.