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Trump and Congress can jumpstart improvements to interstate highways in Southern California
The Orange County Register ^ | February 5, 2017 | Robert Poole

Posted on 02/15/2017 7:38:04 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

President Trump has promised to eliminate regulations and rebuild the nation’s aging infrastructure. Federal agencies are awash with regulations and provisions based on the presumption that government is, and should be, the sole provider of infrastructure. But now that we understand the merits of public-private partnerships, which can provide more accountable public-purpose infrastructure, these numerous regulations and provisions serve as major obstacles preventing the improvement of highways and other infrastructure.

Back in 1995, Reason Foundation published a policy study itemizing a number of these regulatory barriers. Sadly, most of them still exist today. If a state or municipal facility has received direct federal grant funds, for example, a change of use or ownership (such as entering a long-term lease/concession with a company to reconstruct and manage it) triggers a grant repayment requirement, which essentially serves as a tax and prevents these types of deals from getting done. Since this is an Office and Management and Budget rule, it could be changed by the stroke of President Trump’s pen.

Similarly, changes are needed to the Federal Highway Administration pilot program to allow Interstate highway reconstruction projects to be funded by toll revenues. The 47,000 miles of Interstate highways are the nation’s most valuable surface transportation infrastructure, handling 25 percent of all vehicle miles of travel on just 2.5 percent of the nation’s total highway lane-miles. In Southern California, I-5, I-10 and I-15 are all vital arteries for residents and businesses. But the Interstate system was designed to last 50 years and much of the pavement is nearing the end of its life cycle.

(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; congress; construction; cra; deregulation; funding; gastax; highway; highways; infrastructure; interstate; interstates; p3s; ppps; privatization; regulations; southerncalifornia; spending; taxes; tolls; transportation; userfees
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1 posted on 02/15/2017 7:38:04 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

No funding for sanctuary states. Stop bothering us, CA.


2 posted on 02/15/2017 7:39:31 AM PST by txrefugee
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Not sure why this administration would prioritize infrastructure improvements in a state that actively works to impede him on literally every front.

Jumpstart improvements in Texas, Florida, and the Rust Belt. Negotiate with California when they start behaving like adults.


3 posted on 02/15/2017 7:40:49 AM PST by Heavyrunner (Socialize this.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Uh, can somebody explain why we should support a breakaway state/

I know! It’s so they’re grateful and won’t want to flaunt the law.


4 posted on 02/15/2017 7:41:04 AM PST by x1stcav (Leftism is like rust: It corrodes 24 hours a day until eradicated.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

LOL! Uh, what, to aid in trespassers traveling on the highways and byways of kalibfornia. Maybe a ‘slow walk’ is in order. Or, jerry moonbeam could divert some cash from the “high” speed rail system. Or is that being diverted to the Oroville dam.


5 posted on 02/15/2017 7:41:07 AM PST by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Sorry. No federal funds for Sanctuary cities, counties or states. Fix your own damn roads.


6 posted on 02/15/2017 7:41:43 AM PST by pgkdan (The Silent Majority Stands With TRUMP!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

These liberals really have no shame.


7 posted on 02/15/2017 7:43:24 AM PST by pinkandgreenmom
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

New rally cry!

America First!
California next!


8 posted on 02/15/2017 7:44:49 AM PST by nevergore
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Hey! California!
You have the money to spare!....................


9 posted on 02/15/2017 7:45:04 AM PST by Red Badger (If "Majority Rule" was so important in South Africa, why isn't it that way here?.......)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Come on, guys. Given that your taxes are:

California, 58.83 cents per gallon. The bulk of the Golden State's gas taxes comes from its excise tax of 30 cents per gallon. The state also collects a 2.25% sales tax on gasoline, plus applicable district taxes.

If you had elected a governor who knew anything about constructing a budget, your traffic flows suggest you can pay this yourself. Instead, you pick a moonbeam lunatic who insists on creating sanctuary cities throughout the state. Sounds like a CA voter problem.

10 posted on 02/15/2017 7:45:09 AM PST by econjack
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Secure the water supply first, then make them grovel...


11 posted on 02/15/2017 7:45:09 AM PST by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I can see no reason why the rest of the country should support a lawless state like California. The Republican Congress and Executive have no up side in funding any infrastructure or any other activity in the state.

California spends over $30 billion a year on services to illegals. Medical, housing, food, education. That would be sufficient to improve untold numbers of roads, bridges and damns. They have chosen to fritter their money on underwriting human stem cell research, illegal alien invasions and bullet train boondoggles. Let them suck on it. I suggest that business owners and tax payers revolt or move.


12 posted on 02/15/2017 7:46:23 AM PST by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Sacrificing taxpayers to CA again? How about no. I knew Trumps 1Trillion “infrastructure” stimulus was behind this. Never let a created crisis go to waste! None of these problems just suddenly appeared.. trees on the spillway didn’t crop up overnight. More Crisis theft. I thought CA was leaving.. didn’t need our help. Surprise, they lied. Enough taxpayer money goes to CA for their Sanctuary policies.
Sorry, NorCal.. we know this isn’t you, but you aren’t going to get the money anyway. It will be funneled to San Fran, etc al.


13 posted on 02/15/2017 7:56:38 AM PST by momincombatboots (Pray, prepare.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

On inauguration day the national debt was 19,947,304,555,212.49. On Monday its down to 19,924,218,517,074.52 so we are making progress so far on getting it paid down 23 billion dollars so far. But until the debt gets paid down then California, not the federal government, is just going to have to pay for their own internal improvements.


14 posted on 02/15/2017 7:56:51 AM PST by Degaston
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To: Degaston

Debt clock shows it as $19,975 trillion today.

http://www.usdebtclock.org


15 posted on 02/15/2017 8:05:26 AM PST by chuck allen
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Trump’s proposal provides for public private partnerships, P3s. I would imagine there a lot of firms that would be happy to front the money for some construction in return for the opportunity to collect tolls on those frequently clogged highways.


16 posted on 02/15/2017 8:11:00 AM PST by oincobx
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To: txrefugee

You beat me to it....


17 posted on 02/15/2017 8:25:09 AM PST by snowtigger (Deplorable, and proud of it!!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Right, so CA wants us to improve infrastructure right before CA tries to leave the country. No


18 posted on 02/15/2017 8:28:16 AM PST by McGavin999
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To: txrefugee

Agreed

withhold all federal
funds from any and all Californian institutions


19 posted on 02/15/2017 8:29:12 AM PST by vooch
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To: chuck allen

I rely on the official numbers from the US Treasury department. See https://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/debt/search?startMonth=01&startDay=18&startYear=2017&endMonth=02&endDay=15&endYear=2017


20 posted on 02/15/2017 8:32:44 AM PST by Degaston
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