Latest news with #TransportationandInfrastructureCommittee
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New Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
#NSTviral: Johor MB raps poor bus flow at CIQ, orders urgent fix [WATCH]
JOHOR BARU: Bus commuters queuing dangerously long, even down the staircase and spilling near the lanes, at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) checkpoint drew immediate flak from Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. He conducted a surprise spot check early yesterday morning at 4.30am, inspecting the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex. The visit exposed a congested and unsafe situation for thousands of public bus passengers crossing the Johor-Singapore border daily. The inspection revealed a severe congestion problem, prompting Onn Hafiz to call for immediate remedial action to safeguard commuter safety and restore efficient cross-border travel. Calling the situation "unacceptable, unsatisfactory and unsafe", Onn Hafiz convened a high-level coordination meeting with key enforcement and infrastructure agencies at noon the same day to hammer out urgent solutions. He expressed concern over the poor management of public transportation at the checkpoint and said the present system did not reflect the standards expected of Johor's international gateways. The state government, he said, proposed short- and medium-term measures to increase the number of buses and improve service efficiency to cut down long waiting times. He also stressed the need to enhance the overall quality of public transport and to tighten enforcement on factory buses to ensure full compliance with operational standards. "Our people, many of whom rely on these buses to get to work in Singapore, deserve better. "Their safety and daily experience should never be compromised," he said. Meanwhile, Johor Works, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh carried out a follow-up visit to BSI to assess conditions and ensure immediate follow-through. "I visited the CIQ, BSI to monitor the issues arising at the border crossing with the departments and agencies involved. "Several matters were discussed and immediate action will be taken for the smooth flow of traffic at BSI," he said. The menteri besar's visit is part of a broader push to improve the efficiency and safety of Johor's international checkpoints, particularly ahead of the anticipated increase in traffic due to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. Onn Hafiz's regular inspections at the CIQ complexes in BSI and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) are not about assigning blame but resolving longstanding issues. He said the problems were legacy in nature and that the state is working closely with the Immigration Department and Home Ministry to ensure safe, smooth service at both checkpoints. Footage of his visit was captured and uploaded on social media platforms, where Onn Hafiz was heard calling for the safety and convenience of commuters, especially those heading to Singapore for work, to be prioritised. He was also heard saying "the current state of affairs does not reflect the standards Johor aspired to". The Johor government has made CIQ efficiency a state priority, especially with the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) set to further increase cross-border traffic.
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New Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
#NSTviral: Johor MB raps poor bus flow at CIQ, orders urgent fix [WACTH]
JOHOR BARU: Bus commuters queuing dangerously long, even down the staircase and spilling near the lanes, at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) checkpoint drew immediate flak from Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. He conducted a surprise spot check early yesterday morning at 4.30am, inspecting the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex. The visit exposed a congested and unsafe situation for thousands of public bus passengers crossing the Johor-Singapore border daily. The inspection revealed a severe congestion problem, prompting Onn Hafiz to call for immediate remedial action to safeguard commuter safety and restore efficient cross-border travel. Calling the situation "unacceptable, unsatisfactory and unsafe", Onn Hafiz convened a high-level coordination meeting with key enforcement and infrastructure agencies at noon the same day to hammer out urgent solutions. He expressed concern over the poor management of public transportation at the checkpoint and said the present system did not reflect the standards expected of Johor's international gateways. The state government, he said, proposed short- and medium-term measures to increase the number of buses and improve service efficiency to cut down long waiting times. He also stressed the need to enhance the overall quality of public transport and to tighten enforcement on factory buses to ensure full compliance with operational standards. "Our people, many of whom rely on these buses to get to work in Singapore, deserve better. "Their safety and daily experience should never be compromised," he said. Meanwhile, Johor Works, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh carried out a follow-up visit to BSI to assess conditions and ensure immediate follow-through. "I visited the CIQ, BSI to monitor the issues arising at the border crossing with the departments and agencies involved. "Several matters were discussed and immediate action will be taken for the smooth flow of traffic at BSI," he said. The menteri besar's visit is part of a broader push to improve the efficiency and safety of Johor's international checkpoints, particularly ahead of the anticipated increase in traffic due to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. Onn Hafiz's regular inspections at the CIQ complexes in BSI and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) are not about assigning blame but resolving longstanding issues. He said the problems were legacy in nature and that the state is working closely with the Immigration Department and Home Ministry to ensure safe, smooth service at both checkpoints. Footage of his visit was captured and uploaded on social media platforms, where Onn Hafiz was heard calling for the safety and convenience of commuters, especially those heading to Singapore for work, to be prioritised. He was also heard saying "the current state of affairs does not reflect the standards Johor aspired to". The Johor government has made CIQ efficiency a state priority, especially with the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) set to further increase cross-border traffic.
Miami Herald
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Got an EV? You Might Be Paying New Hidden Fees, Thanks to Congress
If you have listened to the evening news this week, you probably would have known that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" early on Thursday, May 22, right before lawmakers are set to return to their districts. The "beautiful" bill has already drawn a lot of attention due to landmark measures packed into the document, including significant tax reform based on major cuts, Medicaid and SNAP reform, increased immigration spending, and an increase to the national debt ceiling, to name just a few. However, packed into the text of the nearly 1,000-page bill are some measures that will affect American motorists, especially those who seek to free themselves from the crutch of the gas pump. Hidden very deep in the bill's text is an amendment titled Section 10004, or "REGISTRATION FEE ON MOTOR VEHICLES." This amendment states that the federal government will impose annual registration fees of $250 for electric vehicles and $100 for hybrids, which individual states' motor vehicle departments will collect. Lawmakers like Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), the chairman of the influential Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said after the bill was passed that such a provision would help fund the Highway Trust Fund, the main source of federal highway funding. He argues that as EV ownership increases and drivers adopt more fuel-efficient cars and hybrids, the gas tax could lose its relevance very quickly. "The bill includes provisions from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to provide historic investments in the United States Coast Guard to strengthen our national and border security, as well as […] ensuring that electric vehicles begin contributing to the Highway Trust Fund," Graves said. The Highway Trust Fund is funded in part through the gas tax, which is reflected in the price of gasoline and diesel fuel. Currently, the gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel, a rate that has not been raised since October 1, 1993. Graves originally tabled this provision in the US House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in late April, where it passed and was added onto the "Big Beautiful Bill" after a 36-30 vote. Graves's proposal in the BBB will impose enforcement responsibility on the states. Specifically, states will be charged 25% on top of the calculated amount of funding they were expected to bring into the Highway Trust Fund if their motor vehicles departments do not collect the respective EV and hybrid fees. "The Administrator shall withhold, from amounts required to be apportioned to any State under section 104(b), an amount equal to 125 percent to the amount required to be remitted under subsection (c)(2)," the bill says. "The Administrator shall withhold the amount on the first day of each fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2026, in which the State does not meet the requirements of subsection (c)." This is not the first time that congressional lawmakers have proposed some sort of "fairness" fee targeted at EV owners. In February 2025, Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced the Fair Sharing of Highways and Roads for Electric Vehicles (Fair SHARE) Act, which would add a $1000 fee to EVs at the time of purchase, aimed at recouping around 10 years' worth of federal gas tax revenue per car. However, it should be noted that this sort of doctrine has already been enforced at the state level. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 39 states have a special registration fee for EVs to recuperate lost gas tax funding. For example, EV drivers in New Jersey, which has reached nearly 200,000 strong as of December 2024, will have to pay a $250 annual electric vehicle fee in addition to their registration fee. This fee will increase by $10 per year for four years and exceed $290 starting in 2028. New Jersey's yearly EV registration tax proceeds will fund the state's trust fund for transportation projects and NJ Transit. It should be noted that this provision affecting EV and Hybrid drivers is sandwiched in the BBB along with dozens of other amendments affecting critical programs such as Medicaid and SNAP, as well as raising the debt ceiling. According to Politico, several Republican Senators say they'll be making changes to the BBB, as many of the provisions could affect constituents in their states. Politics aside, looking at the numbers, it is easy to see how the shift from traditional to alternative fuels could upend decades-old rules and legislation, especially regarding the gas tax and the Highway Trust Fund. However, finding a straight-line solution will require a lot of time, work, and understanding of EVs and the needs of EV buyers by our leaders. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
House committee rejects amendment protecting Scranton-to-NYC train project
Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan supported a proposed amendment that would have added protections for a project to restore passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City — an amendment a GOP-controlled House committee recently rejected. The failure of that and other amendments Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee proposed before the committee approved its budget reconciliation proposal — part of the broader budget reconciliation package Congressional Republicans are pursuing to implement key elements of President Donald Trump's agenda — doesn't derail the local passenger train project. But they would have added safeguards for the long-sought development that, as proposed, would see Amtrak passenger trains run between Scranton and Manhattan's Penn Station with stops in Mount Pocono, East Stroudsburg, Blairstown, Dover, Morristown, Montclair and Newark. Bresnahan, a freshman GOP congressman representing Northeast Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, has voiced strong support for the Scranton-to-NYC train project. He defeated former Democratic U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, one of the rail project's chief local advocates, in November. Bresnahan also was the lone House Republican on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to vote 'yes' on an amendment proposed by U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, a Michigan Democrat, that would have prevented Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy from removing any project from the federal Corridor Identification and Development Program that was included in the program prior to Jan. 20, when Trump took office. The amendment failed by a vote of 35 to 31, with all voting Democrats in favor and all Republicans other than Bresnahan opposed. U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-8, talks about tariffs and other happenings in Washington during the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Red Carpet Breakfast on Friday April 4, 2025 at Sand Springs in Drums (John Haeger / Staff Photographer) The Scranton-to-NYC project, accepted into the Corridor ID Program in late 2023, was among the first in the nation to advance to the second step of that three-step program designed to identify new, viable passenger train routes. Step two includes the completion of a Service Development Plan for the proposed route and serves as a precursor to the third step, which could deliver potentially hundreds of millions of dollars for rail construction and related work. 'Jobs and our growing economy shouldn't be partisan — which is why I voted with the other side of the aisle on amendments to protect critical Amtrak projects,' Bresnahan said in a statement. 'Like my predecessor, Congressman Matt Cartwright, I am a proud supporter of Amtrak, especially the proposed Scranton to New York City Amtrak line. I will continue to advocate for the return of Amtrak to NEPA, allowing our region to continue its momentum as a growing economic, logistics and tourism powerhouse.' Larry Malski, president of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority and another of the rail project's chief advocates, commended Bresnahan for voting to support the proposed Amtrak corridor and his broader support for the project. He also stressed that the proposed amendment's failure doesn't hamper the project's progress that as of now continues unabated. 'Obviously if it passed … it would be an extra layer of protection,' he said of the Scholten amendment. 'But again, we're very appreciative to Congressman Bresnahan for following through on his commitment to the project.' An Amtrak study released in March 2023 found that restoring passenger rail service between Scranton and the Big Apple would generate $84 million in new economic activity annually, creating jobs on both sides of the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border. If the project comes to fruition, which is possible as early as 2028, it would mark the return of passenger rail service between those cities for the first time since 1970. Republicans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where the GOP has a five-member majority, also voted down a proposed amendment that would require the transportation secretary to issue reports justifying potential rail grant reductions or cancellations before such a reduction or cancellation occurs. Another amendment rejected by the Republican-controlled committee would have appropriated billions in annual funding for Amtrak operations and competitive rail grants for fiscal years 2025 through 2034, among other examples. Those amendments were defeated by voice vote, meaning no roll call vote was taken.
Miami Herald
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
New Federal EV Fee Could Cost Owners More Than Twice the Average Gas Tax
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves, who is also a Congressman representing the 6th District of Missouri, has proposed a federal bill that would require electric vehicle (EV) drivers to pay a yearly registration fee of $250 and hybrid owners to cough up $100 annually, according to Reuters. The suggested annual EV registration fee, which essentially operates as a tax, is based on a Federal Highway Administration estimation that the average American uses about 550 gallons of gas per year, according to InsideEVs. However, the current federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon, which comes out to about $101 when multiplied by 550, so there's a significant discrepancy with the fee for all-electric models, even if you go with the bill's initial suggestion of charging electric car owners $200 yearly. In other words, if the bill passes, EV owners would be paying an annual registration fee more than twice the average gas tax or the equivalent of the $0.184 tax on 1,389 gallons of gasoline. A proposed $20 annual fee for all drivers that was part of the bill was dropped. The bill suggests that the $250 EV and $100 hybrid registration fees would generate around $40 billion over the next decade for the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which pays for a variety of transportation infrastructure projects, Benzinga reports. "By leveraging states' existing registration systems, the bill assesses an annual registration fee of $250 on EVs and $100 on hybrids (which currently pay a lesser share into the HTF) to ensure they pay for their use of the nation's roads and bridges. Together, these new user fees are expected to increase federal revenues by a conservative estimate of more than $38B over 10 years, all of which will be deposited into the HTF," Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves said in an interview with Design News. Consumer Reports notes that seniors, who drive far fewer miles than the average American, would have to pay almost six times the amount of driving the average new car getting 28 MPG. While hybrid owners wouldn't pay as much as EV owners, they would still face an annual fee roughly twice the amount they would pay in federal vehicle gas taxes when driving a less fuel-efficient internal combustion engine (ICE) model. Seniors driving hybrids would have a yearly fee three times that of a gas-powered car. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's bill also includes inflation adjustments for the annual EV and hybrid fee but doesn't include inflation adjustments for ICE vehicles. The committee reviewed the bill on Wednesday before it heads to the House Budget Committee. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is right to consider changes to fuel taxes, which haven't been updated since 1993, considering that funding for the Highway Trust Fund has declined since around 2008. Just in 2024, the fund faced a deficit of $20.6 billion. While fuel tax revenues haven't been keeping pace with the increased adoptions of EVs, the revenues haven't experienced any adjustments for inflation, and EV owners appear to be picking up all the slack. EV drivers will also have to pay this significantly higher $250 fee upfront at registration instead of incrementally, like ICE owners would. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
