Study Finds U.S. Motorists Do Not Pay Their Way

A new study by Mark Delucchi, research scientist at the U.C. Davis Institute for Transportation Studies, has found that "motor-vehicle users in the U.S. -- unlike users in most European countries -- do not 'pay their way.'"

1 minute read

September 30, 2007, 11:00 AM PDT

By naparstek


In a new study entitled, "Do Motor Vehicle Users in the U.S. Pay Their Way?" Mark Delucchi, the nation's leading taxonomist of motor vehicle-related revenues and costs, finds that current tax and fee payments to the government by motor-vehicle users fall far short of government expenditures related to motor-vehicle use in the U.S..

Published in the journal, Transportation Research A, Delucchi's analysis indicates that US motorists are subsidized at a rate equal to somewhere between 20 to 70 cents per gallon of all motor fuel.

That implied subsidy, which excludes social and environmental costs such as climate damage and uncompensated crash costs, equates to 7 to 25 percent of the current price of gasoline. On a dollar basis, writes Streetsblog contributor and economist Charles Komanoff, U.S. drivers are underpaying local, state and national governments by $40 to $105 billion a year.

Thursday, September 20, 2007 in Streetsblog

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

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.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business