LaHood Talks Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Tax, Panel to Release Transp Financing Recommendations
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's recent interview by the Associated Press has drawn a lot of flak from hybrid car owners and even President Obama for suggesting VMT taxes as an option to boost transportation infrastructure dollars.
Yet the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission, whose report will be released on Thursday, February 26 (I will post a link when it's available) is expected to recommend a VMT tax as part of their 2-year project to analyze and recommend transportation funding solutions.
The Commission was established by SAFETEA-LU for two years to analyze "future highway and transit needs and the finances of the Highway Trust Fund" and make "recommendations regarding alternative approaches to financing transportation infrastructure." An interim report was released February 2008.
Former Texas State Representative and House Transportation Committee Chairman Mike Krusee is a member of the blue-ribbon panel. Krusee has often talked about the need to close the gap between road-mile maintenance costs and road-mile usage costs, saying it only costs a driver 2-3 cents a mile to use a highway, yet it costs states 20-30 cents a mile to maintain a highway.
So far, Texas hasn't seen a grand-scale push to adopt a VMT tax, but may start examining it as other states such as Oregon and Massachusetts implement pilot programs.
Yet the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission, whose report will be released on Thursday, February 26 (I will post a link when it's available) is expected to recommend a VMT tax as part of their 2-year project to analyze and recommend transportation funding solutions.
The Commission was established by SAFETEA-LU for two years to analyze "future highway and transit needs and the finances of the Highway Trust Fund" and make "recommendations regarding alternative approaches to financing transportation infrastructure." An interim report was released February 2008.
Former Texas State Representative and House Transportation Committee Chairman Mike Krusee is a member of the blue-ribbon panel. Krusee has often talked about the need to close the gap between road-mile maintenance costs and road-mile usage costs, saying it only costs a driver 2-3 cents a mile to use a highway, yet it costs states 20-30 cents a mile to maintain a highway.
So far, Texas hasn't seen a grand-scale push to adopt a VMT tax, but may start examining it as other states such as Oregon and Massachusetts implement pilot programs.
Posted by Lauren at February 23, 2009 5:50 PM 
Categories: gas tax, National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission, Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
Categories: gas tax, National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission, Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
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