Tuesday, May 17, 2011

If It Moves, Tax It. If It Keeps Moving, Regulate It.

D.C.-To-NYC Buses May Get More Expensive With New Regulations
 
"In D.C.'s Chinatown neighborhood, buses leave to or arrive from New York City at almost any hour. These buses have grown in popularity, thanks in large part to their low prices. 

But starting this summer, D.C. can charge companies using curbside space a public space rental fee of $80,000 a year or more.  Pete Pantuso, head of the American Bus Association, says that  this fee will be passed along to the riders in the form of higher prices. And he says D.C. is using a booming local industry as an ATM."

MP: You knew this had to happen....

19 Comments:

At 5/17/2011 8:54 AM, Blogger bob wright said...

If it stops moving, subsidize it.

 
At 5/17/2011 9:02 AM, Blogger Buddy R Pacifico said...

The curbside will be a revenue generator for cities. Buses, cabs, ice cream vendors, mobile restuarants, souvenier merchants, sightseeing jitneys, etc. will all be subject to fees. Those that get pushed from the curb, will be the ones who can't pass on the increased costs to customers.

 
At 5/17/2011 9:41 AM, Blogger Tim Worstall said...

Cue buses that arrive at Metro stops just outside DC city limits......

 
At 5/17/2011 10:27 AM, Blogger juandos said...

"But starting this summer, D.C. can charge companies using curbside space a public space rental fee of $80,000 a year or more...

Sadly said public won't see that $80K in their wallets...

 
At 5/17/2011 10:40 AM, Blogger PeakTrader said...

U.S. consumers may be squeezed by rising taxes (and fees, fares, fines, tolls, etc.), and rising prices, including through more regulation, while income growth remains too slow.

Economists: Lower growth expected as oil prices crimp the economy
May 15, 2011

A survey from the National Association for Business Economics predicts (real) GDP will grow 2.8 percent this year — down from the group’s February prediction that it would grow 3.3 percent.

Their outlook for consumer spending and the housing market also weakened, in part because they expect oil prices to remain above $100 a barrel through 2012.

The panel of 41 economists also said they “remain highly concerned” about the growing federal deficit.

Business spending was the bright spot in the NABE predictions. The economists expect spending on business equipment and software to rise 11.9 percent this year.

Corporate profits will rise by 8.5 percent, they predict.

 
At 5/17/2011 11:27 AM, Blogger Benjamin Cole said...

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Every taxing entity, every public agency, should provide a budget every year in which they tell taxpayers how they accomplish goals for less, not more.

Imagine if the Department of Defense every year prepared such a budget.

 
At 5/17/2011 11:38 AM, Blogger Mortgage Banker said...

This is a very shortsighted move by DC. It will most certainly raise fares and shift a big chunk of the business to bus companies serving the outskirts of the city like Vamoose Bus and others.

 
At 5/17/2011 12:16 PM, Blogger Angie said...

So, find a private spot to drop people off.

 
At 5/17/2011 12:46 PM, Blogger rjs said...

"these D.C.-to-New York bus companies can keep prices low because they don't need a bricks-and-mortar bus depot. They just use the curb for free"

 
At 5/17/2011 1:23 PM, Blogger bob wright said...

Angela is right.

A bus company could buy a parking lot or an abandoned building and have it demolished to create a parking lot.

The bus company could have it paid off in 4 or 5 years at $80,000/yr.

 
At 5/17/2011 1:58 PM, Blogger Michael Hoff said...

"A bus company could buy a parking lot or an abandoned building and have it demolished to create a parking lot."

How about the Capitol?

 
At 5/17/2011 2:03 PM, Blogger PeakTrader said...

This is not a good economic cycle:

Economic data suggests soft patch continues
May 17, 2011

PAYCHECK CYCLE STILL IN EFFECT

Wal-Mart said U.S. sales fell in the February to April quarter, adding it continued to see a paycheck cycle, where people stock up around payday and then spend less as money runs out.

 
At 5/17/2011 2:47 PM, Blogger PeakTrader said...

The article says:

"It's very, very clear that the District is looking for money," he says.

Cleckley, however, says it's not about the fees, it's about the principle.

"You as a private citizen parking at a parking meter, you're paying a rate to park at the curb. It's the same concept that exists for these carriers to operate off the curbside," Cleckley says.

My comment: If it's about "principle," the city would suspend parking meters, until economic conditions improved.

 
At 5/17/2011 3:55 PM, Blogger Seth said...

Nice comment Angie. It will be interesting to see what might emerge. I imagine there are some private lots out there that could manage to provide pick up space for smaller fees or better foot traffic. Too bad it has to go that way though.

 
At 5/17/2011 5:20 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

DC won't see a dime of those fees unless they also make it illegal for buses to use private parking lots to load passengers. Of course, some of that will still go to DC in the form of income taxes on the fees charged by the parking lots.

 
At 5/17/2011 7:39 PM, Blogger Market Watcher said...

"And he says D.C. is using a booming local industry as an ATM."

Yes...

An ATM filled with Other Peoples Money.

 
At 5/17/2011 7:44 PM, Blogger Dan Ferris said...

I wonder how much the bus companies already pay in DC taxes?

 
At 5/18/2011 2:50 AM, Blogger Ron H. said...

"How about the Capitol?"

Great idea! It's not being used for anything worthwhile now.

 
At 5/18/2011 10:21 AM, Blogger juandos said...

"Great idea! It's not being used for anything worthwhile now"...

Ditto that comment!!

Its on the money (if you'll pardon the pun)...

 

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