California Testing Per-Mile Gas Tax Alternatives

A summer pilot program will test the fairness and efficacy of collection mechanisms for mileage-based fee options.

1 minute read

May 17, 2024, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Blurred traffic speeding by on freeway with Los Angeles skyline in background.

frank peters / Adobe Stock

Gas taxes make up roughly 80 percent of California road and highway repair funding, but as more drivers switch to electric cars and the state prepares to ban the sale of gasoline-powered cars in 2035, that key funding source is in peril. California authorities are trialing alternative revenue generators.

“The new pilot program will pay Californian drivers of any vehicle type up to $400 to test alternative options for six months starting in August,” explains Alia Shoaib in Newsweek. The program includes two alternatives: a flat per-mile fee or an individual rate that varies with a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. The pilot is designed to test the collection process and ensure it is “fair and reliable.” The state is seeking 800 participants for the program.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024 in Newsweek

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