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This morning, Transportation Secretary Deb Miller appeared before the Kansas Senate Transportation Committee to brief the committee on the details of T-WORKS. the proposed new 10-year transportation plan for Kansas. She'll continue her testimony tomorrow. We live-tweeted this morning's appearance, and will tweet tomorrow's appearance, as well.
Tomorrow's hearing, like today's, is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. I hope we don't run too long, because at 10:00 tomorrow morning, Secretary Miller will hold a press conference to announce the release of the preliminary Amtrak study on passenger rail in Kansas.
This morning went well, I think. It's a stunner to hear the list of budget cuts KDOT experienced this fiscal year--more than $250 million so far. One senator commiserated with Secretary Miller and observed that the Legislature has sometimes treated the agency like "the First National Bank of KDOT." Another noted that KDOT is spending less on highway maintenance now than it was spending in the 1970s (in inflation-adjusted dollars).
Today's testimony was largely devoted to an overview of some of the changes in the proposed new plan, including a couple of options involving the state Motor Fuels Tax. (One option calls for a 7-cent increase in the tax beginning in 2013; the other would reduce the tax, but eliminate the state sales tax exemption on fuel sales.) Tomorrow will be devoted to a more detailed examination of the new program. Please follow along with us on Twitter @KDOTHQ. I think it will be a fun day.
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Several transportation issues were discussed this week, and next week will be even more exciting with the start of the T-WORKS discussions.
Here is what happened this week:
The House Judiciary Committee held hearings on SB 368 , a bill originally designed to clarify DUI penalties. There was an amendment added on the floor of the Senate to remove the requirement that proof of installation of an ignition interlock device must be given in order for an offender to receive their license. KDOT testified in opposition to the bill due to the amendment. The requirement is necessary to ensure that individuals do not circumvent the law by not installing such device, even if it is a requirement to do so. The only way enforce the requirement is to catch the person driving without the device.
The House Transportation Committee held a hearing, and recommended SB 409 to the full House. SB 409 will establish a broad framework allowing KDOT to begin a passenger rail program.
Senate Transportation Committee amended two new provisions into HB 2437, creating Senate Substitute for HB 2437. The bill now contains the primary seat belt law and the text ban legislation. The bill was sent to the full Senate for consideration.
Now on to next week:
The Senate Transportation Committee will begin hearings on the two T-WORKS bills, SB 498 and SB 515 . The first day of hearings is Wednesday, March 10.
For all KDOT legislative testimony, follow this link: http://www.ksdot.org/IDMWS/kdot/11/legislative/testimony.asp?Year=2010
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Total cuts amount to more than $85 million. Transportation Secretary Deb Miller issued a statement immediately after the Governor's presser. This from her statement:
"Today I am suspending
$86 million – or 65 percent – of the $133 million in state-funded projects we’d
planned to have under contract for the remainder of the fiscal year. That will
eliminate jobs for both contractors and suppliers. The saving grace is that the
federal Recovery Act will fund $112 million in new projects to be under way
this summer. We will also continue as planned with projects that involve
federal and local dollars."
Secretary Miller called the cuts "beyond stunning."
We've established a discussion group for this topic here. The Secretary's statement is here. A breakdown of all budget adjustments is here. We'll have a list of the affected projects up shortly.
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Friday, 2 p.m. UPDATE:
We've posted a KDOT budget fact sheet, plus the lists of projects to be let to construction and projects to be cut in FY 2010, all here.
The short version:
1. KDOT has lost $257 million in fiscal year 2010 and a total of more than half-a-billion dollars in the past three years.
2. Our construction spending (in real dollars) is lower than it was in the 1970s.
3. Planned preservation work for this year has been cut by more than 55 percent.
4. KDOT's operating budget has been reduced by $25 million. Equipment purchases have been cut in half. The agency has cut 136 positions and let 300 more go unfilled, reducing salary expense by about $6 million.
There's a lot more. Follow the link to see the details.
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On Twitter.
The Secretary reached out to state Departments of Transportation to give everyone a heads-up about his latest blog, in which he thanks all of us for our efforts in implementing the Recovery Act.
"Look, a Federal agency does not get 13,770
projects underway in a single year without significant heavy lifting by the
state and territorial DOTs across the country," LaHood wrote. "And that's exactly the kind of
support these agencies stepped up and delivered." Read the whole thing here.
Secretary LaHood was one of the first Cabinet Secretaries to adopt social media, and he's been one of the most effective. Government adoption of social media is increasing at a dizzying pace. Not surprisingly, many agencies are looking at Facebook, a network so big that were it a country, it would be the fourth-largest on Earth. If you're interested in learning about how government agencies can effectively deploy Facebook as a public-outreach tool, I encourage you to participate in a webinar scheduled for next Friday to be conducted by the folks at the Web Manager University. The webinar is free and open to anyone with a government email address. Registration information is available here.
Finally, you're no doubt tired of the weekly email you've been receiving from K-TOC announcing new members that have joined the community in the past seven days. I'm tired of it too, so this week we're trying something new. The new approach for the email will include links to community activity from the past week, and down the line will also include notification about cool upcoming stuff. We may not get it exactly right at first, but give us a few weeks, and we'll have this thing nailed.
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The degree to which government is actively engaging with social media is truly impressive. What's happening here at KDOT is happening at dozens--perhaps hundreds--of agencies across the country.
Here in Kansas, several groups are looking into the various technologies and techniques adopted by KDOT and other agencies as they integrate social media into agency operations. I've talked to several people engaged in those investigations, and I'm impressed by their willingness to give the technology a fair chance.
The best current example known to me of effective SM outreach in Kansas government is Roundabout the Dome, the blog maintained by Lindsey Douglas of KDOT's Governmental Affairs Office. She's been posting twice a week during the legislative session, keeping a close eye on transportation legislation, as well as the state's ever-changing revenue situation. It's an excellent read, highly recommended.
There is no better place to get a bird's-eye view of these changes than at GovLoop,
the online community for government employees. A great many key
discussions are happening there, as agency professionals reach out to
colleagues at all levels of government to learn what others are doing
to adapt to new challenges. GovLoop itself is changing as fast as the
media environment, so expect to see a lot of new features if you
haven't dropped by for a while. The community is host to more than
26,000 members now!
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On a more general note, the earthquake in Chile, coming so soon on the heels of the earthquake in Haiti, has stretched emergency-responders to the breaking point. Click here if you're interested in making a contribution to the folks at the American Red Cross.
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The week following the turn-around deadline was slow for transportation issues.
The Senate Transportation committee was working hard this week, hearing several bills and recommending SB 544 to the full Senate. SB 544 will allow Topeka Transit to have commuter service to Lawrence and Manhattan, extending service boundaries 90 miles outside of city limits. KDOT supported the bill in the hearing.
February revenues were released late Friday afternoon, and show the state down another $71 million. The Governor stated that he will be studying the numbers and will look for the best options of balancing the budget. The total amount needed for the final four months of the fiscal year is $105 million.
Look for a mid-week update this week, as things start to speed back up.
For all KDOT legislative testimony, follow this link: http://www.ksdot.org/IDMWS/kdot/11/legislative/testimony.asp?Year=2010
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We have hit a large milestone for the 2010 Session…Turn-around is over!
Saturday, February 20 th is the last day that the House and Senate can consider bills from their respective houses. All Senate bills, that are not exempt from the deadline, must be passed to the House, and vice versa for the House bills. As bills pass the house of orgin, they will pass over to the other house for hearings and further consideration before Wednesday March 24 th , except for bills that are exempt. Exempt committees include House Appropriations, Calendar and Printing, House Taxation, House and Senate Federal and State Affairs, and Senate Ways and Means.
Several bills passed out of both Houses this week, including the following bills related to transportation:
Text Ban Bill – The Senate debated and passed SB 351 with a vote of 34/6 on Friday. The floor debate was contentious. Opponents in the Senate raised several questions about the enforceability by asking several questions about different scenarios from doctors receiving a page to clicking buttons to call someone. Senator Steinegar called the bill stupid, and said the bill was introduced because it was popular. Senator Emler, the Senator who introduced the bill, exclaimed that the bill was brought to save lives. The House bill that was previously reported on, HB 2439 , died with no action before turn-around.
Property Inventory Reporting Requirement – The House Government Efficiency and Technology Committee held a hearing on HB 2631 , a bill that will require all state agencies to annually report all of their property holdings to the House and Senate. KDOT testified in opposition to this bill because it would require an expenditure of $4.3 million to digitize our right of way holdings. The committee exempted KDOT from the bill requirements and instead added a provision that we would be required to annually report our potential excess property, which could be done within existing funds.
The House debated and passed HB 2631, on a 122/0 vote.
Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact –The House debated and passed HB 2552 , on a vote of 112/10. The bill will allow Kansas to join the compact. Four members will be appointed to the commission; members will include the Governor or his designee, a member of the private sector appointed by the Governor, and two legislative members, one from each chamber. The purpose of the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission, and its member states, is to promote the development, implementation and improvement of intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest and to promote coordination among the public sector at the federal, state and local levels as well as with private sector stakeholders.
Primary Seat Belt Law – The Senate passed SB 483 , 26/14. The bill will allow a seat belt violation to be a primary offense. The bill was referred to House Transportation Committee.
Passenger Rail –The Senate passed SB 409 , 37/3. The bill establishes a framework for a passenger rail program. KDOT continues to have concern about the economic feasibility of such program.
Recovery of Consequential Damages – The Senate debated and passed SB 462 , 39/1. The department requested this bill to allow collection of consequential damages when damage is sustained to highway structures. The bill was amended to clarify the intent of an illegal act, and narrowed the extent of consequential damages by changing the language to “indirect costs”.
Bus on Shoulder Operations – The House debated and passed HB 2561 , 87/35. The bill will allow transit buses to operate on the shoulders when the traffic on highways is moving at a speed under 35 MPH. This legislation is intended to help buses maintain guaranteed route times.
Exemption for Restricted License Drivers for Religious Functions – The Senate debated and passed SB 484 , 40/0. The bill, as amended in committee, will add an exemption to allow 16 year old drivers to drive to and from religious functions. Currently those drivers are only allowed to drive to and from school, work, and school activities. The amendments also narrowed the definition of ‘a religious function’. KDOT’s concerns have been lifted by the amendments passed in committee.
Highway Advertising Control Act – HB 2122 is now ‘dead’ because the House did not pass the bill out of committee. It is not exempt of the deadlines. The bill would have grandfathered in billboards and signs that were in place before 2006. In 2006, the law changed requiring billboards be in commercially zoned locations, bringing us into compliance with federal law. The bill would have brought us out of compliance with the federal Highway Beautification Act. Being out of compliance could potentially cost the agency 10% of certain federal funds, which could be up to $22 million in FY 2011.
Rescission bill – The rescission bill conference committee report was passed by both the House and Senate, and will now go to the Governor for his signature. The Conference Committee report did include the 5% salary reduction for statutory employees, as reported last week.
For all KDOT legislative testimony, follow this link: http://www.ksdot.org/IDMWS/kdot/11/legislative/testimony.asp?Year=2010
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KDOT is marking the one-year anniversary of the Recovery Act this week. We've assembled a large amount of data pertaining to the Act's effects here in Kansas, and we're sharing that information with the media and public. Right now I'm tracking down a couple of Kansans who found their current jobs thanks to ARRA, and in coming days I'll be posting about that, and about the larger effects the Act has had on our transportation system.
Here's some happy news for passenger rail advocates in the Sunflower State. And here's some big news for those following the construction of the new Amelia Earhart Bridge in Atchison. And here's an example of forward thinking in public transportation.
This afternoon I'm accompanying Secretary Miller to Wichita, where she's participating in a debate aout transportation policy and funding with Dave Trabert, President of the Kansas Policy Institute. I'll be live-tweeting the debate at www.twitter.com/KDOTHQ. The debate begins at one p.m. Please follow along!
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Presenting testimony, making presentations, and keeping track of where important bills are kept the legislative team very busy this week. All committees were working very hard to get bills out of their committee and to the full House and Senate to meet the turn-around deadline. The turn-around deadline is Saturday, February 3 rd , and is the last day that to consider bills in their house of origin, with a few exceptions.
Several transportation issues were heard and worked this week. Here is what happened…
Primary Seat Belt Law – The Senate Transportation Committee held a hearing on SB 483 , which will allow a seat belt violation to be a primary offense. KDOT testified in favor of the bill with several others. There were no opponents. The committee recommended the bill to the full Senate and will likely be debated next week. The following articles were written this week on the topic.
Seat belt law aims to save lives, money by Jeannine Koranda
Wichita Eagle – Wednesday February 10, 2010
Groups urge Kansas Senate to consider primary seat belt law by Scott Rothschild
Lawrence Journal World – Tuesday February 9, 2010
Property Tax Exemption for KDOT Property – The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee held a hearing on SB 445 . The bill will clarify that property acquired by KDOT prior to construction to be exempt from property tax. KDOT testified in support of the bill. There were no opponents. This bill is scheduled to be worked next week.
Exemption for Restricted License Drivers for Religious Functions – The House and Senate Transportation Committees held hearings on HB 2498 and SB 484 . Both bills add an exemption to allow 14-16 year old drivers to drive to and from religious functions. Currently those drivers are only allowed to drive to and from school, work, and school activities. KDOT submitted written testimony on both bills. KDOT has concern with allowing an additional exemption and the broadly written language concerning what constitutes a ‘religious function’. Several groups submitted written opposing testimony. The House chose not to work the bill on the grounds that they want to allow the GDL law to be in place for awhile before they make changes. The Senate will likely work their version of the bill next week.
Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact – The House Transportation Committee held a hearing on HB 2552 , a bill that will allow Kansas to join the compact. Joining the compact will cost the state $15,000 per year, and will allow 4 members to be appointed to the commission; members will include the Governor or his designee, a member of the private sector appointed by the Governor, and two legislative members, one from each chamber. The purpose of the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission, and its member states, is to promote the development, implementation and improvement of intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest and to promote coordination among the public sector at the federal, state and local levels as well as with private sector stakeholders. KDOT testified in support of the bill. There were no opponents.
Highway Advertising Control Act – The House Transportation Committee held a hearing on HB 2122 . The bill will grandfather in billboards and signs that were in place before 2006. In 2006, the law changed requiring billboards be in commercially zoned locations, bringing us into compliance with federal law. The bill will bring us out of compliance with the federal Highway Beautification Act. Being out of compliance could potentially cost the agency 10% of certain federal funds, which could be up to $22 million in FY 2011. KDOT testified in opposition to the bill. There were questions from the committee about whether or not the federal government with withhold the funds. The following article was written on this issue prior to the hearing.
House member wants a sign by Tim Carpenter
Topeka Capital Journal – February 9, 2010
Rescission bill debate – Representative Neufeld proposed an amendment, that passed in House debate, to the bill that would reduce elected, appointed and statutory position salaries by 5%. The following KDOT employees were impacted:
Cabinet Secretary, State Engineer, Director of Administration, Director of Transportation Operations, Director of Engineering and Design, Director of Planning and Development, Director of Aviation, Public Information Officer, and the Chief Attorney.
The amendment is not final at this point. The House and Senate will have to come to a compromise on the legislation through conference committee. Look for the end result of this in next weeks blog. The following article was written on this issue.
House passes targeted pay cut By Tim Carpenter
Topeka Capital-Journal - Thu February 11, 2010
For all KDOT legislative testimony, follow this link: http://www.ksdot.org/IDMWS/kdot/11/legislative/testimony.asp?Year=2010
As we head into the very busy time of session, I wanted to send out a big thank-you to everyone that has been helping us to hit our deadlines, on fiscal notes, testimony, bill review, and the numerous legislative requests that we get every week. A special thanks to everyone pounding the marble at the statehouse every day, picking up bills, taking testimony, presenting testimony, and monitoring committees.
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