S.20.3-9: Improved Public Transit Act (Law'd)

[tmthforu94]

Improved Public Transit Act

Section 1. Title
i. The title of this act shall be the Improved Public Transit Act
ii. The purpose of this legislation is to strengthen our public railways and incentivize Southerners to walk and bike

Section 2.
i. The Southern Government will allocate an additional amount of $2 billion to repair sidewalks, roadways, and railways. Funding shall be appropriated from regional reserves.
ii. The entities responsible for carrying out infrastructure improvements under this act are subject to targets and performance measures reflecting state transportation goals and objectives. Performance measures shall also include conditions of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, accessibility and safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users on the state highway system.

Sponsor: Spark498

Minimum 48 hours for debate. The sponsor is invited to testify.

[Senator-elect Spark]

This bill is intended to provide for those who cannot readily access public transportation. Section 2 is provided to ensure the facilities meet safety standards. My intent is to help our citizens in all areas, especially rural. Contracting out will save the South funds as well as ensuring and maintaining high quality facilities.

[tmthforu94]

So essentially this would put more focus towards private businesses to repair roads, as opposed to the Department of Transportation?

I do support this idea in general - we should look to numeralize the budget for this. It is something that is badly needed; while our regional unemployment numbers are looking OK, it is also a good way to provide a boost in jobs for those still looking for work.

[Holy Unifying Centrist]

I think the government does a better job with infrastructure than private enterprise. Roads and transportation are public goods. Private enterprise does not always have a vested interest in maintaining and repairing roads. While non-profit organizations are great, they simply do not have the mass resources to do road repairs.

[Senator-elect Spark]

I think the government does a better job with infrastructure than private enterprise. Roads and transportation are public goods. Private enterprise does not always have a vested interest in maintaining and repairing roads. While non-profit organizations are great, they simply do not have the mass resources to do road repairs.

Yes, I agree. The DOT is best suited to provide these public goods. However, I think it would be a good idea to contract out some services to get our people back to work during this time.

[Senator-elect Spark]

So essentially this would put more focus towards private businesses to repair roads, as opposed to the Department of Transportation?

I do support this idea in general - we should look to numeralize the budget for this. It is something that is badly needed; while our regional unemployment numbers are looking OK, it is also a good way to provide a boost in jobs for those still looking for work.

This bill provides the opportunity for private entities to contract with the DOT. And I agree.

[tmthforu94]

If we made an investment in infrastructure projects, what do delegates think would be a good number?

[thumb21]

I support the general goal of investing more in infrastructure, particularly in railways and footpaths. But, the wording of the bill threw me off a bit. I think it would make a lot more sense to word it something like "The Southern Government will allocate an additional x amount for the maintainence of sidewalks, roadways and railways" and then that money will go to either private contractors or public organisations on a case by case basis.

[tmthforu94]

In agreement with what Thumb said.

If we made an investment in infrastructure projects, what do delegates think would be a good number?

[Senator-elect Spark]

I support the general goal of investing more in infrastructure, particularly in railways and footpaths. But, the wording of the bill threw me off a bit. I think it would make a lot more sense to word it something like "The Southern Government will allocate an additional x amount for the maintainence of sidewalks, roadways and railways" and then that money will go to either private contractors or public organisations on a case by case basis.

I can amend to update the language.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Improved Public Transit Act

Section 1. Title
i. The title of this act shall be the Improved Public Transit Act
ii. The purpose of this legislation is to strengthen our public railways and incentivize Southerners to walk and bike

Section 2.
i. The government of the South shall offer contracts to private entities such as non-profit organizations for infrastructure improvements. The Southern Government will allocate an additional amount of $1 million to repair sidewalks, roadways, and railways.
ii. The contractors are subject to targets and performance measures reflecting state transportation goals and objectives. Performance measures shall also include conditions of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, accessibility and safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users on the state highway system.

Sponsor: Spark498

Proposing this amendment. How does $1 million sound? It's a size-able investment that is needed.

[tmthforu94]

24 hours for objections to Spark's amendment.

[thumb21]

I did some research into the transport budget because I know we increased it quite abit when Tmth amended the Fairbol budget. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like it was increased to 70 billion back then, before being cut down to 48 billion but then the chamber passed a bill allocating an additional 15 billion for an infrastructure board.

On the amendment, I don't think a million would be enough. I'm thinking more a billion or two. A million would not have too much impact in comparison to the tens of billions that is already spent on infrastructure maintainence.

[Senator-elect Spark]

I did some research into the transport budget because I know we increased it quite abit when Tmth amended the Fairbol budget. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like it was increased to 70 billion back then, before being cut down to 48 billion but then the chamber passed a bill allocating an additional 15 billion for an infrastructure board.

On the amendment, I don't think a million would be enough. I'm thinking more a billion or two. A million would not have too much impact in comparison to the tens of billions that is already spent on infrastructure maintainence.

Agree.

[tmthforu94]

Sparks amendment has been adopted. Is there another amendment to provide further increase?

[tmthforu94]

Offering amendment increasing funding to $2 billion. Thumb is right - this was something that was pushed when I was last Governor, though what my measure did was primarily restore cuts to funding that the previous administration had made. I think it is appropriate that we go a step further here.

Improved Public Transit Act

Section 1. Title
i. The title of this act shall be the Improved Public Transit Act
ii. The purpose of this legislation is to strengthen our public railways and incentivize Southerners to walk and bike

Section 2.
i. The government of the South shall offer contracts to private entities such as non-profit organizations for infrastructure improvements. The Southern Government will allocate an additional amount of $1 million billion to repair sidewalks, roadways, and railways. Funding shall be appropriated from regional reserves.
ii. The contractors are subject to targets and performance measures reflecting state transportation goals and objectives. Performance measures shall also include conditions of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, accessibility and safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users on the state highway system.

24 hours for objections.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

The Amendment is adopted.

[tmthforu94]

Well shoot, I made a mistake in my last amendment. While I said I was proposing $2 billion, I forgot to change the "1" to a "2" in the text. Offering this:

Improved Public Transit Act

Section 1. Title
i. The title of this act shall be the Improved Public Transit Act
ii. The purpose of this legislation is to strengthen our public railways and incentivize Southerners to walk and bike

Section 2.
i. The government of the South shall offer contracts to private entities such as non-profit organizations for infrastructure improvements. The Southern Government will allocate an additional amount of $21 billion to repair sidewalks, roadways, and railways. Funding shall be appropriated from regional reserves.
ii. The contractors are subject to targets and performance measures reflecting state transportation goals and objectives. Performance measures shall also include conditions of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, accessibility and safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users on the state highway system.

24 hours for objections.

[tmthforu94]

Amendment is adopted, debate resumes.

[thumb21]

An amendment to allow access to this money for either private or public entities.

Improved Public Transit Act

Section 1. Title
i. The title of this act shall be the Improved Public Transit Act
ii. The purpose of this legislation is to strengthen our public railways and incentivize Southerners to walk and bike

Section 2.
i. The government of the South shall offer contracts to private entities such as non-profit organizations for infrastructure improvements. The Southern Government will allocate an additional amount of $2 billion to repair sidewalks, roadways, and railways. Funding shall be appropriated from regional reserves.
ii. The contractors entities responsible for carrying out infrastructure improvements under this act are subject to targets and performance measures reflecting state transportation goals and objectives. Performance measures shall also include conditions of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, accessibility and safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users on the state highway system.

[tmthforu94]

24 hours for objections to the amendment.

[tmthforu94]

Thumb's amendment has been adopted. Debate resumes.

[thumb21]

Unless anyone else has anything to say, I'll motion for a final vote.

[tmthforu94]

Motion is recognized, 24 hours for an objection.

[tmthforu94]

Seeing no objections, we will proceed to a final vote. Please vote AYE, NAY or ABSTAIN.


Aye