Gas Tax

Poltical Courage & Raising The Gas Tax

Another column by New York Times columnist, Thomas Friedman on the need to raise the gas tax - in this one, he compares the U.S. to Europe and concludes that the former are 'wimps' for not having the courage to raise gas or carbon taxes.
27 September 2009 - 11:00am
The New York Times - Opinion

Why Public Transit Doesn't Work In The U.S.

Gas taxes, parking charges, toll roads - these are the ingredients to making transit successful, according to experts who state that it's not enough to offer good transit - driving must become more expensive. Add to that high density land use.
10 August 2009 - 2:00pm
Los Angeles Times

Transportation Reauthorization Battles Ahead - Funding & Revenue Split

The transportation reauthorization bill will be hotly debated this fall on at least two fronts - finding a sustainable funding source and apportioning the revenues. The 18.4 cent gas tax, its funding source, declined 33% due to inflation since 1993.
8 June 2009 - 9:00am
The New York Times - U.S.

Highway Trust Fund - Near Broke, Again

Back in September, we reported that the trust fund had to receive an $8 billion bailout. Reuters reports that a second bailout is required to prevent the fund from going broke by August. Sen. Boxer indicates she supports indexing the gas tax.
4 June 2009 - 5:00am
Reuters

Increase Funding or Raise Taxes?

Transit advocates may be louder than highway backers for the first time in discussions about the next authorization bill, but highway supporters warn less highway funding means less gasoline taxes.
3 June 2009 - 11:00am
Congressional Quarterly Today

Idea to Tax Drivers By the Mile Gathers Support in Washington

Washington's top transportation official has indicated support for the idea of beefing up transportation funds by taxing drivers by the mile.
14 May 2009 - 7:00am
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

10-Cent Gas Tax Needed for Dallas-Fort Worth Transit

It would take at least an additional 10-cent tax on gasoline to fund transit and transportation projects in metropolitan Dallas-Fort Worth, according to city officials who want to ask voters to allow the increases.
9 May 2009 - 9:00am
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The Future of National Surface Transportation Policy

That was the title the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation chose for a hearing on April 28. Panelists: Ray LaHood, DOT Secretary; Steve Heminger, MTC; Jame Corless, T4America; Ann Canby, STPP, and Ned Holmes, TX Transp. Comm.
4 May 2009 - 1:00pm
Streetsblog

Obama Rejects Gas Tax, VMT Fee

Ray LaHood rejected raising the gas tax, then President Obama rejected a vehicle-miles-traveled fee. What's left is "out-of-the-box" ideas like tolling and public-private-partnerships.
11 March 2009 - 11:00am
The Wall Street Journal

The Planetizen News Brief - 3/5/09


4:20 minutes (3.98 MB)

New York kicks cars off Broadway, Congress is advised to raise the gas tax and charge by VMT, and transportation jobs hit the street -- all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing every week on the nationally-syndicated radio program "Smart City".

5 March 2009 - 5:00am

Don't Fear the VMT Fee

The Christian Science Monitor editorializes in support of the VMT fee replacing the gas tax just as the latest federal transportation financing commission report recommends, as Oregon Governor Kulongoski hopes to do, and as some will do in Europe.
4 March 2009 - 10:00am
The Christian Science Monitor

Raise The Gas Tax AND Switch To VMT Fee, Says Commission

The National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission advises Congress that the U.S. is in an infrastructure crisis, and that they must raise the gas excise tax by ten cents now and begin the switch to a VMT fee.
2 March 2009 - 12:00pm
The New York Times: Energy & Environment

No Plans For Federal VMT Tax Switch

Amid talk by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood of converting the gas tax into a vehicle miles traveled tax, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs stated that the plan "will not be the policy of the Obama administration."
22 February 2009 - 11:00am
Newsday

EPA's Emissions Waiver Not Enough

This editorial lauds the new president for acting hastily on granting the waiver to allow CA and 13 states to require higher mileage vehicles, but warns it must not be an end in itself. A higher gas tax, it notes, will do more to reduce emissions.
5 February 2009 - 10:00am
Los Angeles Times

NYT Pushes Hybrid Credits and Auto Scrapping

This editorial suggests three strategies to make the American auto fleet more efficient: renewing the hybrid tax credit program (many credits have been exhausted), pursuing a "cash for clunkers program", and increasing the gas tax to supplement CAFE.
22 January 2009 - 11:00am
The New York Times

A Second Federal Commission Pushes Fuel Tax Hike

Exactly a year after the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission released its report calling for a fuel tax hike, the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission calls for much of the same.
5 January 2009 - 12:00pm
Takepart

Oregon To Introduce VMT Fee Legislation

Oregon was the first state to study replacing state gas taxes with a Vehicle Miles Traveled fee in 2007. Now Gov. Kulongoski is taking the next step - introducing legislation to replace the 24-cent gas tax with a VMT fee that applies GPS technology.
5 January 2009 - 8:00am
Corvallis Gazette Times

SUVs And Light Trucks Make Comeback

Cheap gas, great deals, and winter weather resulted in SUV and light trucks resuming their dominance in vehicle sales in December, climbing to 51% of all sales, as Prius sales dipped 48% in November.
2 January 2009 - 7:00am
CNNMoney.com

Funding Sources Need Revision to Enable Obama's Highway Plans

President-elect Barack Obama's plans to update the nation's highway system will be limited by funding. Congressional transportation officials are calling for an update of the gas tax, among other changes.
30 December 2008 - 6:00am
NPR

Raise the Gas Tax, Reduce the Payroll Tax

Time's Michael Kinsley explains why now is the perfect time to introduce a revenue-neutral gas tax, with the revenue used to lower the payroll.
18 December 2008 - 12:00pm
Time
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