LGC 5.0 - Lincoln Cycling Subsidies Act - STATUTE

[Brother Jonathan]

Is there a time after which the $2 billion for bike lines will no longer be distributed every fiscal year? I see no indication that the bill provides for an end to the funding, which would lead me to think that the funding would just continue at the initial rate until the General Court decided to amend it downward or repeal the program, meaning that we would have to constantly re-visit this program down the road, which seems to me to make it more likely that the grants will remain unnecessarily high for quite some time. Seems a rather cumbersome complication to an otherwise straightforward proposal. Would the sponsor be open to including a provision providing that the funding be phased out over time? I have no objection to the sum, however.

[Brother Jonathan]

I still think we should create a timeline for this bill, rather than outsourcing $2 billion in annual funding for bike lanes to the sole discretion of the OPTG ad infinitum. If we find we want to increase the sum or renew the program, we could choose to do that down the road, but I will only support the bill if we set a funding phase out with a hard deadline, requiring any extensions or modifications to be passed by the General Court. I would think maybe 5 years would be sufficient. It could look something like this:

Year 1: $2 billion
Year 2: $1 billion (50% decrease)
Year 3: $500 million (50% decrease)
Year 4: $175 million (65% decrease)
Year 5: $87.5 million (50% decrease)

So a total of around $3.8 billion over five years. Alternatively as well, we could create a two-year period of full funding, and then start the five-year phase-out on the third year of the program, which would add $4 billion to the total.

[Brother Jonathan]

I'll propose an amendment to add the schedule, though I am open to modifying it if members want to adjust the schedule

Lincoln Cycling Subsidies Act

An act to encourage cycling in Lincoln

I. Definitions:
1. A bicycle shall be defined as a two wheeled vehicle which is propelled by pedals which are pushed by the rider.
2. A bike lane shall be defined as a paved right of way established exclusively for use by cyclists, whether it be a standalone path or built within an existing road.
II. Actions:
1. The region of Lincoln shall levy no tax on the sale of bicycles.
2. No jurisdiction within the region of Lincoln shall levy any tax on the sale of bicycles.
3. For each fiscal year, $2,000,000,000 shall be appropriated for the construction of bike lanes. Starting in fiscal year 2023, $2,000,000,000 shall be appropriated for the construction of bike lanes. Funding shall continue for five years, being reduced by 55% each year, with funding ending in the sixth year. This sum shall be distributed to state, county, and municipal governments in the region of Lincoln by the Office of Public Transportation grants in accordance with the process described in sections 1b and 1c of L.C. 8.5.
4. This act shall take effect at the beginning of fiscal year 2023.

So the new schedule would look like this:

2023: $2,000,000,000
2024: $900,000,000
2025: $405,000,000
2026: $182,250,000
2027: $82,012,500

So a total of just shy of $3.6 billion over five years.

[Brother Jonathan]

Aye on my amendment

[Brother Jonathan]

Aye