Hybrid cars and fuel efficient motors are using fewer gallons of gas, a trend expected to decrease revenues from per-gallon gas taxes -- the main funding for road-building. The proposed system would track drivers' mileage with on-board GPS devices.
The state of Oregon is exploring alternative methods to keep gas tax revenues steady in a market that is steadily becoming more fuel efficient. The proposal is to monitor drivers and levy taxes depending on how many miles people are driving, when they are driving, and where they are driving. The system depends on the Global Positioning Systems installed in most new cars to keep track of how and where they are being driven.
The system is currently being tested in about 300 Portland-area cars, but even if the test-run is successful, the state Department of Transportation doesn't expect it to be implemented for nearly 14 years.
"The mileage-fee project was designed by engineers at Oregon State University. The system works by using a Global Positioning System in a car to determine the number of miles traveled inside and outside of Oregon and at what times, which could lead to peak-driving-time fees. When the car pulls into a service station, a radio transmitter sends the data to a reader in a gas pump. The mileage fee is added to the bill, and the gas tax is subtracted."
"'Still, there will be people who don't believe it,' said Jim Whitty, who is overseeing the project for the transportation department. 'We know the navigation systems are more invasive, and they will be standard equipment on GM cars a year from now.'"
FULL STORY: Oregon might tax motorists per mile driven, not per gallon

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie