ANALYSIS OF POLICY ISSUES RELATING TO PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN PRIVATE FREIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE

The Norman Y. Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies (IISTPS) at San Jose State University conducted this study to review the issues and implications involved in the investment of public funds in private freight infrastructure. After thorough legal research, the project team reached the following conclusions: Legal Analysis: 1) The California legislature has the legal power to invest public funds in privately-owned freight infrastructure projects. 2) State Highway funds, excepting gas tax revenues, may be used for investment in freight infrastructure projects. 3) Gas tax revenues are restricted to highway use by current interpretations of the California Constitution. A challenge to this interpretation is not recommended. 4) Gas tax revenues may be invested in roadway segments of freight infrastructure projects. Recommendations: 1) An analytical system of guidelines should be developed to score and evaluate any proposed freight infrastructure project. 2) Economic development must be included in these scoring guidelines. 3) Public agencies should maintain political contacts in order to control the political short-circuits of the planning process. 4) The California Department of Transportation should develop a Freight Improvement Priority System for the purpose of prioritizing all freight improvement projects.

• Record URL:
  http://www.transweb.sjsu.edu/mtiportal/research/publications/documents/9903.htm
• Record URL:
  https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/17000/17200/17244/PB2001100502.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  San Jose State University

  Mineta Transportation Institute, 210 North 4th Street
  San Jose, CA  United States  95192-0219

  California Department of Transportation

  Office of Research, P.O. Box 942873
  Sacramento, CA  United States  94273-0001

  Research and Special Programs Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Evans, J D
  • Kelley, N
• Publication Date: 1999-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 50 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic development; Freight transportation; Fuel taxes; Gasoline; Guidelines; Infrastructure; Investments; Legal factors; Policy analysis; Politics; Public private partnerships; Shipments; State highways; Strategic planning; Transportation policy
• Geographic Terms: California
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Freight Transportation; Highways; Law; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00960445
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/CA/OR-99/20,, Final Report
• Contract Numbers: 65W136
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 15 2003 12:00AM