More Efficient Cars Means Less Gas Tax Revenue
Legislators and transportation planners are faced with a problem that will only get worse: revenues from the gas tax are decreasing as cars are getting better gas mileage. This means that the state and federal government are getting less money to fix highways and fund infrastructure needs.
"One way to address the problem would be to allow the gas tax to gradually go up as vehicle fuel efficiency improves so that it continues to bring in the same amount of revenue," the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Other options include a vehicle-miles traveled tax, increasing vehicle registration fees, enacting a local option tax or vehicle sales tax, and reauthorizing the use of public-private partnerships.
The dire need for additional transportation funding to address Texas' serious congestion problems and infrastructure needs was echoed throughout the House & Senate joint transportation hearing on Feb. 1. Business leaders and transportation officials expressed their concerns to the Legislature, urging lawmakers to bring all possible options to the table so that the state can have the money it needs to build and maintain necessary projects.
Public education and involvement is vital in solving the funding crisis. "We have to get more grassroots involvement from the people stuck on Interstate 635, Loop 820, you name it," North Richland Hills Mayor Oscar Trevino said.
To read more on this issue, see the FWST article, "Cars with better mileage will dry up gas tax revenue, planners fear"
"One way to address the problem would be to allow the gas tax to gradually go up as vehicle fuel efficiency improves so that it continues to bring in the same amount of revenue," the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Other options include a vehicle-miles traveled tax, increasing vehicle registration fees, enacting a local option tax or vehicle sales tax, and reauthorizing the use of public-private partnerships.
The dire need for additional transportation funding to address Texas' serious congestion problems and infrastructure needs was echoed throughout the House & Senate joint transportation hearing on Feb. 1. Business leaders and transportation officials expressed their concerns to the Legislature, urging lawmakers to bring all possible options to the table so that the state can have the money it needs to build and maintain necessary projects.
Public education and involvement is vital in solving the funding crisis. "We have to get more grassroots involvement from the people stuck on Interstate 635, Loop 820, you name it," North Richland Hills Mayor Oscar Trevino said.
To read more on this issue, see the FWST article, "Cars with better mileage will dry up gas tax revenue, planners fear"
Posted by Emily at February 5, 2010 11:02 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: gas tax funding revenue transportation
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: gas tax funding revenue transportation
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