The TIAC staff researches and prepares detailed case studies of recent successful—and unsuccessful—state and local legislative and ballot initiative campaigns aimed at increasing transportation infrastructure investment. For each case, the studies dig into the politics, issues, media and major players involved in the effort. You’ll also find here a summary of successful campaign “Best Practices” gleaned from this research.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell (D) signed into law on July 1, 2015, a bill to increase state Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) fees for a total of $23.9 million, with plans to match that sum in borrowing over the next six years. . The legislation also included a transportation fund ‘lockbox’, which will limit the use of the new vehicle fee revenue solely for construction projects. Additionally, the Delaware Deaprtment of Transportation (DelDOT) plans to increase oversized vehicle permits from $10 to $30, supersize permits from $30 to $60, and an ‘over-the-legal-limit’ weight fee will increase from $5 to $10 per 8,000 pounds. Altogether, DelDOT estimates an annual increase of $55 million per year.

An in-depth case study on the 2015 Delaware transportation funding increase is now available, including history of the state’s transportation revenue, the demonstrated need for an increase, the breakdown of the legislation and how it was passed, who supported the bill, and who opposed the bill. To view the case study, visit: Delaware Legislative Transportation Funding Increase(2015). To view other case studies, visit the ‘Campaign Case Studies’ tab.

TIAC attempts to track all ongoing state and local transportation funding and financing developments in real time and reports on them frequently through our Blog. If you would like to contribute information to this effort, please contact the TIAC staff.