(Gas Mileage) Oregon explores a mileage fee to underwrite road, bridge costs - The Patriot-News - PennLive.com

Political aversion to raising the gas tax and other mo tor-vehicle-related fees has meant that highway revenues have not kept pace with rising costs. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that by 2009 the highway trust fund will be $21 billion short of the monies required to maintain existing highways. While the easily and efficiently collected gas tax has been the major source of highway funding for decades, increased fuel efficiency and a shift to hybrid and eventually other nonliquid forms of vehicle fuel herald the eventual eclipse of this method of obtaining revenues for roads. But as vehicle propulsion systems diversify and require fewer or no trips to the pump, basic fairness and the need for funds commensurate with highway maintenance requirements will compel other means of raising revenue. Oregon is seeking an $18 million federal grant for an expanded pilot effort that would seek to mimic a national highway-fee collection system using the state’s counties to imitate the role of states. While basing highway charges on miles driven has its flaws, such as failing to reward fuel efficiency, clearly new methods of paying for highway repair and maintenance must be developed. read more

[Tags]highway, gas, tax, federal, fuel, costs, gas mileage[/Tags]

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