Melissa Maynard was a GOVERNING contributor, working as a project reporter on the Government Performance Project, a project of the Pew Center on the States.
E-mail: mailbox@governing.comTwitter: @governing
Transportation & Infrastructure
Catching Up With Speed
Two states are adjusting the way they deal with lead-footed drivers.
Georgia State University students made national headlines and Google Video glory earlier this year with "55: A Meditation on the Speed Limit around the Perimeter." The students filmed a four-car, mid- morning excursion around Atlanta to demonstrate that the swift flow of traffic makes it unsafe to stay within the speed limit.
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, however, is unconvinced and is pushing "Super Speeder" legislation that would add an additional $200 fine for speeders who hit 85 mph or more on highways or 75 mph on two-lane roads. "The governor said pretty plainly that speeding is an epidemic in Georgia," says Bret Brantley, the governor's press secretary. "For the average speed in the state to be 20 miles per hour over the speed limit is completely out of control." The estimated $25 million to $30 million that would be generated from the measure would be used to help fund the state's hospital trauma centers, which end up caring for accident victims. So far, the legislation has passed in the Senate.
Michigan also is modifying its approach to policing speed. Faced with an expected $3.1 million budget deficit, the Michigan State Police Department is cutting its fuel costs by having troopers reduce the mileage they put on their patrol cars. Rather than ride the highways, troopers are spending more time on stationary activities, such as running radar, and patrolling only as they make their way back to the post. "We're trying," says spokeswoman Shanon Akans, "to make these cuts in a way that will have the least impact on public safety."
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe for updates.
Twitter: @governing
Latest from Transportation & Infrastructure
- Massachusetts Governor Vows to Veto Scaled-Back $500M Transportation Plan
- The bill was significantly more modest than a proposal Gov. Deval Patrick made in January that called for major investments in new transportation projects.
- Denver's Ambitious Light Rail to Open This Month
- The project marks the first completed portion of the region's ambitious FasTracks program.
- Virginia Lawmakers Give Final OK to Landmark Transportation-Funding Plan
- The Virginia General Assembly, reconvening Wednesday for a one-day session to consider legislation vetoed or amended by Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, gave its final approval to a landmark transportation-funding plan that the governor said would raise nearly $6 billion over five years.
- Bucking National Trend, Atlanta's Public Transit Ridership Declines
- Unlike most public transit systems in the United States, last year, MARTA continued a downward spiral in declining ridership.
- Indianapolis Building First Empty-Ballpark Apartments
- Communities struggle with what to do with stadiums once sports teams leave. Indianapolis is converting its historic minor league ballpark into apartments.
GOVERNING Data
- Gay Marriage States Map
- Map shows state laws legalizing or prohibiting gay marriage and civil unions.
- 2012 Population Estimates for Metro Areas
- Public Transit Agency Ridership Statistics
- Average Tax Refund by State
- Which Services Are Citizens Most, Least Satisfied With?
- 2013 State of the State Speeches Word Cloud
Events & Webinars
- It’s A Paperless, Paperless World..... Thinking Outside the Box to Gain Efficiencies through Prepaid Cards
- April 23, 2013
- Public sector organizations are under intense scrutiny to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible and with maximum transparency. An important consideration is the way in which payments are made and managed. Prepaid cards can offer flexibility, security and accountability to governments as a method of dispersing benefits, healthcare and social care payments, child benefits and housing benefits to their constituents.
- GOVERNING - Michigan Leadership Forum 2013
- May 1, 2013
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Flickr
RSS
© 2011 e.Republic, Inc. All Rights reserved. |