Transitioning to a New Financing Structure for U.S. Roads in the 21st Century

摘要

Federal funding of roads in the U.S. in the twentieth century was successfully accomplished largely, and simply, through a tax on consumption of fuel. Several emerging factors are changing the situation. First, advances in fuel economy result in less tax revenue per mile of travel. Also, the "user pays" principle itself is in question as new vehicles such as the Nissan LEAF use no gasoline at all. Second, the fuel tax has remained unchanged since 1993 while increases in inflation raise the cost to maintain and improve roads every year. Third, the user pays principle is also undermined by diversions to non-road projects, such as through the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund. This is one reason contributing to why road capacity has increased just 8.3% since 1980 while Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) have increased 96.2%. Fourth, Congressional earmarks, Federal grant programs, and other bureaucratic reasons have led to increasing Washington, DC control of project selection that is less formula-based and objective oriented.