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Opinions / Op-eds

The High Cost of Mass Transportation

Valley Regional Transit (VRT) is a “regional public transportation authority, responsible for the management of public bus transit” in the Treasure Valley area that includes fixed, intercounty, and on demand bus routes. Fares include a one way ride for $1.50, $2.50 for an all-day pass, and up to $282 for one year. Elaine Clegg was […]

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News

Could Little’s Budget Cuts Mean Higher Taxes on the Horizion?

Governor Little has asked all state agencies to cut their budgets by 1% for this year and 2% for next because of falling tax revenues. He has also asked our state colleges to cut their budgets by 1% this year and 2% next year. The only budgets that were not cut were those connected with […]

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News

California rail cost jumps to $8,000 per household

— Published with Permission of cfact.org — Estimated construction costs for California’s high-speed rail line have risen to $100 billion (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/us/california-high-speed-rail.html) – or $8,000 per California household – according to the latest estimates. Years behind schedule and $60 billion over budget, estimated construction costs have now risen to over $1.2 million per mile of track. […]

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News

Amtrak’s decision to degrade service threatens its future

— Published with Permission of HeraldandNews.com — In February, Amtrak deeply downgraded Northwest sleeper service on the Coast Starlight, its most heavily used long-distance train. The train’s elegant Pacific Parlour Car (the dedicated sleeper diner/lounge), was removed. While the train retains the coach diner/lounge (now for all riders), this train is so popular that the […]

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News

BNSF’s ‘Sandpoint Junction Connector Project’ Hearings Are Well Attended and Upbeat

Wednesday, May 23, the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) held public hearings on the application received from BNSF Railway Co. to construct a second train bridge adjacent to and west of the existing train bridge across Lake Pend Oreille and Sand Creek. Two sessions were held that day, the first at Ponderay Events Center at […]

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News

Calls For RFS Reform As Ethanol Battle Continues

— Published with Permission of WesternWire.net — The Renewable Fuel Standard had its day at the White House, with President Trump hearing from ethanol supporters on policies to ease the expanded use of the fuels, and opponents calling for reform and even an end to mandate they say hurts consumers and does little to help […]

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News

Digital tracking (ELD) mandate driving up transportation costs, causing food waste

— Published with Permission of FreeRangeReport.com — Created with the goal of improving highway safety for the trucking industry, the ELD rule was passed hastily, lacking the necessary flexibility for varying conditions that may increase a driver’s time on the road, and without a thorough assessment of its potential costs. News outlets and advocacy groups […]

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