Every Wednesday, the Ferguson Group blog will be posting a series of articles published over the previous week that discuss topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!
House Approves $50.7 Billion in Emergency Aid for Storm Victims
On Tuesday night, the House passed a $50.7 billion emergency aid bill to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy. The aid package passed 241 to 180, with 49 Republicans joining 192 Democrats. The Senate is expected to pass the measure and the President has expressed support for it. The emergency measure would help homeowners with homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy, provide assistance to business owners, and provide funding to fix damaged infrastructure. Read more . . .
Infrastructure Bank Advocates Seek a New Champion
Proponents of a national infrastructure bank are seeking new champions in Congress. With Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) gone from the Senate and Senator John Kerry (D-MA) most likely leaving soon, two of the biggest voices in favor of creating a national infrastructure bank will be absent from Congress. A national infrastructure bank could be used to help fund large infrastructure projects that span multiple regions. Read more . . .
4 Ways the Feds are Making Transit Better
The Federal Transit Authority (FTA) recently announced changes to New Starts and Small Starts—its main capital funding programs for transit. The programs fund about half the cost of light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit, and ferry systems in the United States. The new rules include four provisions that will speed up major transit projects and increase local benefits. Read more . . .
In ‘Fiscal Cliff’ deal, a Blow to Obamacare
One of the provisions of the deal regarding the “fiscal cliff” was to stop funding the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans program which was meant to boost health insurance competition by funding nonprofit health plans. This decision has frustrated the 40 or so start-ups that were vying for federal funding. Read more . . .
Tech Upgrades Spur Bus Ridership in North Carolina
Technology is ushering a new era of public bus use in Concord, NC. Enhancements such as a new transit center, a real-time online bus tracking application, solar lighting technology at bus stops, electronic fare boxes, and real-time messaging information have caused bus ridership to go up by 64,000 from 2011 to 2012. Read more . . .
State’s Fastest Public Wi-Fi Now Live in Amherst, Mass.
Earlier this year, residents of Amherst, Massachusetts were given public access to high-speed outdoor Wi-Fi in the city’s downtown core. The public Wi-Fi comes after a six year period of testing, troubleshooting, and trial and error. The town will measure return on investment for the public Wi-Fi by keeping tabs on the number of downtown businesses that open in the next two to three years. Read more . . .
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