L.C. 10.13 - High Speed Highways Act - Vetoed - Override Failed

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

High Speed Highways Act and Climate Change Control Act
An act to facilitate travel between population centers, while combatting climate change


1. For the purposes of this act, a High Speed Highway (HSH) shall be defined as any highway that has one or more lanes permitted to drive at speeds up to 80 miles per hour

2. Express lanes shall be built on the following highways to convert them to High Speed Highways

a. Interstate 95 from Foxborough, MA to Andalusia, PA

b. Interstate 80 from Elmwood Park, NJ to Gary, IN

c. Interstate 71 from Montgomery, OH to Strongsville, OH

d. Interstate 76 from King of Prussia, PA to Harmar Township, PA

e. Any other interstate, or section thereof, in a County with an average population density of less than 200 people.

3. All of the above highways shall have at least one express lane at HSH standards

4. Local authorities may at any point choose to lower the speed limit, if it is required for safety reasons

5. This project shall cost $28,468,000,000

6. Funding shall be via existing unobligated government funds.

7.If at all possible, existing lanes shall be converted to HSH standards. However, if absolutely necessary, new lanes may be built such that existing buildings will not be demolished. Construction/Conversion shall be according to the following formula:

A. In Counties with an average population density of 400 people or more, three HSH lanes shall exist. At least two non-HSH lanes shall also exist.

B. In Counties with an average population density of 201-399 people, two HSH lanes shall exist. At least two non-HSH lane shall also exist.

C. In Counties with an average population density of 200 people or less, one HSH lane shall exist. At least two non-HSH lane shall also exist.

8. USER FEES

Tolling

A. Tolls shall be collected on HSH lanes built on the roads referenced in sections a. through d.

B. The method of tolling shall be by open road tolling. Electronic toll collection sensors, also known as gantries shall be installed at locations mentioned in section E on the aforementioned highways.

C. The method of payment for the tolls shall be via the E-ZPass transponder or toll by plate. Rates shall be the same regardless of payment method

D. Tolled HSH Lanes will be labeled and marketed as "E-ZPass High Speed Express (EHSE)"

E. Electric vehicles shall be exempt from all tolls on HSH lanes

F. Toll gantries shall be installed slightly before the following locations, and in both directions, unless otherwise specified, these shall also be the only locations where one may leave the EHSE lanes either to exit the highway entirely or crossover to the local lanes:

i. On Interstate 95
Southern Terminus of Tolling is in Pennsylvania
a. Exit 35 on I-95 in Pennsylvania (Andalusia/Philadelphia) (northbound gantry only, southern terminus of tolling)
b. Exit 40 on I-276/Pennsylvania Turnpike (Harrisburg/New Jersey)
Entering New Jersey
c. Exit 6 on I-95/NJ Turnpike in New Jersey (Delaware/New York City)
d. Exit 7A on I-95/NJ Turnpike (I-195, Trenton/Shore Points)
e. Exit 10 on I-95/NJ Turnpike (I-287/NJ-440, Perth Amboy/Outerbridge Crossing, Metuchen)
f. Exit 11 on I-95/NJ Turnpike (Garden State Parkway
g. Exit 13 on I-95/NJ Turnpike (I-278, Goethals Bridge)
h. Exit 14 on I-95/NJ Turnpike (I-78, Clinton, Holland Tunnel/New York)
i. Exit 16E on I-95/NJ Turnpike (NJ-495, Lincoln Tunnel/New York)
j. Exit 69 on I-80 (NJ Turnpike, Trenton)
Entering New York
k. Exit 1C-D on I-95 in New York (I-87/New York Thruway, Albany, Triborough Bridge/Queens)
l. Exit 6A on I-95 (I-678 South, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge/Queens)
m. Exit 6B on I-95 (I-295, Throgs Neck Bridge/Queens)
n. Exit 9 on I-95 (Hutchinson River Parkway North)
Entering Connecticut
o. Exit 48 on I-95 in Connecticut (I-91 North, Hartford)
p. Exit 76 on I-95 (I-395 North, Norwich)
Entering Rhode Island
q. Exit 11 on I-95 in Rhode Island (I-295 North, Woonsocket)
r. Exit 19 on I-95 (I-195, Cape Cod)
Entering Massachusetts
s. Exit 4 on I-95 in Massachusetts (I-295 South, Warwick/Woonsocket)
t. Exit 6A-B on I-95 (I-495, Worcester/Cape Cod)
u. Exit 8 on I-95 (Foxborough/Boston) (southbound gantry only, northern terminus of tolling)
Northern Terminus of Tolling is in Massachusetts

ii. on Interstate 80:

Eastern Terminus of Tolling is in New Jersey
a. Exit 62 on I-80 in New Jersey (Garden State Parkway, Newark/Paterson, westbound gantry only, eastern terminus of tolling)
b. Exit 53 on I-80 (US 46, Delaware Water Gap/New York City, NJ-23, Butler)
c. Exit 47 A-B on I-80 (I-280, Newark, US-46,  Delaware Water Gap/New York City)
d. Exit 43 on I-80 (I-287, Mahwah/Morristown)
Entering Pennsylvania
e. Exit 293 on I-80 in Pennsylvania (I-380, Scranton)
f. Exit 277 on I-80 (I-476/Pennsylvania Turnpike, Allentown/Wilkes Barre)
g. Exit 260A-B on I-80 (I-81, Scranton/Harrisburg)
h. Exit 212 A-B on I-80 (I-180, Willamsport)
i. Exit 161 on I-80 (I-99, Bellefonte/Altoona)
j. Exit 19A-B on I-80 (I-79, Erie/Pittsburgh)
k. Exit 4A-B on I-80 (I-376, Pittsburgh)
Entering Ohio
l. Exit 224 on I-80 in Ohio (I-680, Youngstown)
m Exit 276 on I-76/Ohio Turnpike (I-80, Cleveland/Youngstown, I-76, Akron/Pittsburgh)
n. Exit 187 on I-80/Ohio Turnpike (I-480, Cleveland)
o. Exit 173 on I-80/Ohio Turnpike (I-77, Cleveland/Akron)
p. Exit 161 on I-80/Ohio Turnpike (I-71, Cleveland/Columbus
q. Exit 151 on I-80/Ohio Turnpike (I-480, Cleveland)
r. Exit 142 on I-80/Ohio Turnpike (I-90, Cleveland)
s. Exit 71 on I-80/I-90/Ohio Turnpike (I-280, Toledo/Detroit)
t. Exit 64 on I-80/I-90/Ohio Turnpike (I-75, Dayton/Toledo)
Entering Indiana
u. Exit 144 on I-80/I-90/Indiana Toll Road (I-69, Lansing/Angola/Fort Wayne)
v. Exit 21 on I-90/Indiana Toll Road (I-80, Des Moines, I-94, Detroit/Des Moines)
w. Exit 12 on I-80/I-94 (I-65, Gary/Indianapolis, eastbound gantry only, western terminus of tolling)
Western terminus of tolling is in Indiana

iii. on Interstate 71

entirety of tolling is in Ohio

a. Exit 17 on I-71 (I-275, northbound gantry only, southern terminus of tolling)
b. Exit 101 on I-71 (I-270)
c. Exit 108 on I-71 (I-70, Dayton/Wheeling)
d. Exit 108B/109 on I-71 (I-670)
e. Exit 119 on I-71 (I-270)
f. Exit 209 on I-71 (I-76, Akron)
g. Exit 220 on I-271 (I-271, Erie)
h. Exit 233 on I-71 (I-80/Ohio Turnpike, Toledo/Youngstown, southbound gantry only, northern terminus of tolling)


iii. on Interstate 76

entirety of tolling is in Pennsylvania

a. Exit 326 on I-276 (I-76, Pennsylvania Turnpike, Eastern Terminus of tolling, westbound gantry only)
b. Exit 298 on I-76 (I-176)
c. Exit 247 on I-76 (I-283)
d. Exit 242 on I-76 (I-83)
e. Exit 161 on I-76 (I-70)
f. Exit 75 on I-76 (I-70)
g. Exit 57 on I-76 (I-376)
h. Exit 48 on I-76 (western terminus of tolling, eastbound gantry only)

F. Tolls shall be collected at a rate of $0.30 per mile for 2 axle vehicles, rates shall be higher for vehicles with more axles.

G. This tolling proposal will raise approximately $2,849,348,571.43

Vehicle Mile Tax

a. The region of Lincoln shall levy a Vehicle Mile Tax of $0.05 per mile driven

b. Electric vehicles or gas vehicles with a carpool of 3 or more people shall be exempt from the Vehicle Mile Tax

c. The Vehicle Mile Tax shall raise: [To Be Calculated Later]

9. It shall be illegal to talk or text on the phone while operating a vehicle on roads with speed limits above 55 mph

a. The punishment for the first violation of Section 9 shall be a $250 fine

b. The punishment for the second violation of Section 9 shall be a $1,500 fine and 30 days of community service

c. The punishment for the third violation of Section 9 shall be a $5,000 fine, a 3 month suspension of a license, and 120 days of community service.

d. Punishments for further violations shall be decided by the local judge.


10. EXPANSION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUBSIDIES

Title 15 of L.C. 6.21 shall be amended as follows:

Section 7. Electric cars

(a) In general. —

An owner of an electric vehicle shall be eligible for an Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit.

(b) Tax credit. —

The Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit shall be $8,000 per new electric vehicle. However, any individual with an income less than $40,000 or a household with an income less than $60,000, shall receive a tax credit equivalent to the value of their electric vehicle, provided that the value of the electric vehicle does not exceed $60,000, in which case, the government of Lincoln will only subsidize $60,000 of the cost.

(c) Income cap. —

The Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit tax credit shall not apply to any individual with a gross income of more than $100,000.

11. This act will begin to be implemented two years after passage by the Council.

Sponsor: S019 Dwarven Dragon
Occupying: Slot 1 of 14

Sponsor, please advocate for your bill.

[S019]

So, this is an idea that I've had for a while and aims to make car travel between large cities easier, the average speed limit is around 60 mph on highways, so raising it to 90, could cut the travel time by 30 min per hour, for instance a currently 3.2 hour trip from New York City to Baltimore would become a 2.1 hour one, a 13.2 hour trip to Chicago, becomes an 8.8 hour one, while this may not be as helpful for short distances, it'd definitely facilitate long distance in travel in Lincoln and I hope other regions adopt this idea if we choose to do so.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Obviously costs/funding may have to be worked out a later date when we actually have a CG, but this is a solid framework with a 2 year cushion for all details to be worked out. I support this.

[AGA]

90 seems too fast. Four lanes in urban areas also seems dangerous.

[KaiserDave]

90 seems too fast. Four lanes in urban areas also seems dangerous.

Agreed

[Sestak]

This is idiotic, to say the least.

[S019]

90 seems too fast. Four lanes in urban areas also seems dangerous.

On the first point, these are express lanes, meant for long term travel, so driving at faster speeds really shouldn't be an issue, and iirc there's a road in downtown Houston where the top speed limit is 85. I'm very confused what the second point means, more lanes should be better? Also it's not you'd be able to constantly enter and leave the express lanes. My idea is any crossovers to local lanes would be before entering major cities, and no access into or out of the express lanes while crossing through the cities.

[AGA]

An amendment:

High Speed Highways Act

An act to facilitate travel between population centers


1. For the purposes of this act, a High Speed Highway (HSH) shall be defined as any highway that has one or more lanes permitted to drive at speeds up to 980 miles per hour

2. Express lanes shall be built on the following highways to convert them to High Speed Highways

a. Interstate 95 from Foxborough, MA to Andalusia, PA

b. Interstate 80 from Elmwood Park, NJ to Gary, IN

c. Interstate 71 from Montgomery, OH to Strongsville, OH

d. Interstate 76 from King of Prussia, PA to Harmar Township, PA

3. All of the above highways shall have at least two lanes of express lanes at HSH standards, but may have as many as four in more urban areas

4. Local authorities may at any point choose to lower the speed limit, if it is required for safety reasons

5. Cost for this project shall be determined at a later date per estimates

6. Funding methods for this project shall be determined at a later date

7. This act will begin to be implemented two years after passage by the Council

[S019]

Friendly for now, but I want to hear the rationale behind it

[AGA]

IIRC the 85 mph speed limit in Texas is the highest in the country, and outside Texas, the highest is 80. There doesn't seem to be a reason to go above 80, especially since most people speed anyway.

[S019]

IIRC the 85 mph speed limit in Texas is the highest in the country, and outside Texas, the highest is 80. There doesn't seem to be a reason to go above 80, especially since most people speed anyway.

Would you be open to 85 as a compromise? I'm totally fine with 80 though, if it's what is needed for this to pass as it's an improvement over the status quo.

[AGA]

IIRC the 85 mph speed limit in Texas is the highest in the country, and outside Texas, the highest is 80. There doesn't seem to be a reason to go above 80, especially since most people speed anyway.

Would you be open to 85 as a compromise? I'm totally fine with 80 though, if it's what is needed for this to pass as it's an improvement over the status quo.

I suppose that's fine, but my other concern is the minimum of two express lanes since some sections of the highways listed are only two lanes wide (unless the bill is counting express lanes in both directions together).

[S019]

IIRC the 85 mph speed limit in Texas is the highest in the country, and outside Texas, the highest is 80. There doesn't seem to be a reason to go above 80, especially since most people speed anyway.

Would you be open to 85 as a compromise? I'm totally fine with 80 though, if it's what is needed for this to pass as it's an improvement over the status quo.

I suppose that's fine, but my other concern is the minimum of two express lanes since some sections of the highways listed are only two lanes wide (unless the bill is counting express lanes in both directions together).

The express lanes would be in addition to lanes that are already present.

[AGA]

IIRC the 85 mph speed limit in Texas is the highest in the country, and outside Texas, the highest is 80. There doesn't seem to be a reason to go above 80, especially since most people speed anyway.

Would you be open to 85 as a compromise? I'm totally fine with 80 though, if it's what is needed for this to pass as it's an improvement over the status quo.

I suppose that's fine, but my other concern is the minimum of two express lanes since some sections of the highways listed are only two lanes wide (unless the bill is counting express lanes in both directions together).

The express lanes would be in addition to lanes that are already present.

Hmm, then I would have to see cost and timing estimates before supporting this.

[KaiserDave]

Not a big fan

[Brother Jonathan]

Even if we amend this down to 80, I still won't be able to support this. Beyond the obvious safety concerns, we do not even have any funding worked out for this, and it sounds like this could be a rather expensive project. Not the sort of thing we should be looking into now, especially if we want to expand mass transit in hopes of reducing carbon emissions and making transportation more efficient.

[S019]

Even if we amend this down to 80, I still won't be able to support this. Beyond the obvious safety concerns, we do not even have any funding worked out for this, and it sounds like this could be a rather expensive project. Not the sort of thing we should be looking into now, especially if we want to expand mass transit in hopes of reducing carbon emissions and making transportation more efficient.

So regarding carbon emissions, we have already passed a carbon tax, and I am open to hiking it, also I had a cap and trade proposal a while back, that I'd be willing to revive. If both of those passed, we'd definitely greatly reduce emissions.

[Former President tack50]

I find the idea of increasing speed limits interesting but it should not be done by building new highways but rather by just having the Lincoln DoT revise speed limits and increase them wherever it is safe.

In fact if conditions are good enough Lincoln could even try to pull off sections like those from the German Autobahn, with no speed limits

[AGA]

Carbon emissions is not the concern of regional governments, in my view.

[S019]

So, I just got the cost for this back, it'll be $18 billion, but we have a greater than $1 trillion surplus right now, so we can afford this.

[Sestak]

There is, by the way, not going to be a single cent of federal funding for any of this nonsense if it passes. I am not backing the further demolition of (mostly low-income) neighborhoods to build clones of Houston’s 26-lane monstrosities. Urban freeways have done enough damage to communities already.

[S019]

There is, by the way, not going to be a single cent of federal funding for any of this nonsense if it passes. I am not backing the further demolition of (mostly low-income) neighborhoods to build clones of Houston’s 26-lane monstrosities. Urban freeways have done enough damage to communities already.

To clarify, there would be no demolition of neighborhoods, if it needs to pass through a neighborhood, it'd be built at an elevated height (i.e. above the buildings). Also I'd expect most of the expansion to be done in rural areas, urban areas can probably mostly just have the lanes be repurposed.

[S019]

Anyways an amendment to clarify this

An amendment:

High Speed Highways Act

An act to facilitate travel between population centers


1. For the purposes of this act, a High Speed Highway (HSH) shall be defined as any highway that has one or more lanes permitted to drive at speeds up to 980 miles per hour

2. Express lanes shall be built on the following highways to convert them to High Speed Highways

a. Interstate 95 from Foxborough, MA to Andalusia, PA

b. Interstate 80 from Elmwood Park, NJ to Gary, IN

c. Interstate 71 from Montgomery, OH to Strongsville, OH

d. Interstate 76 from King of Prussia, PA to Harmar Township, PA

3. All of the above highways shall have at least two one lanes of express lanes at HSH standards, but may have as many as four in more urban areas.

4. Local authorities may at any point choose to lower the speed limit, if it is required for safety reasons

5. Cost for this project shall be determined at a later date per estimates This project shall cost $18,468,000,000

6. Funding methods for this project shall be determined at a later date

7. In areas with a population density above 2,000 people per square mile, no new lanes shall be built, instead at least one lane in each direction shall be converted to a HSH lanes

7. 8. This act will begin to be implemented two years after passage by the Council

[/quote]

[AGA]

How do you define an area with a population density of over 2000 people per square mile?

[S019]

How do you define an area with a population density of over 2000 people per square mile?

Municipality density is the easiest way to do so, though I'm sure there are others.