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.

1 minute read

January 5, 2009, 8:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


"As part of a transportation-related bill (Gov. Kulongoski) has filed for the 2009 legislative session, he plans to recommend 'a path to transition away from the gas tax as the central funding source for transportation."

"As Oregonians drive less and demand more fuel-efficient vehicles, it is increasingly important that the state find a new way, other than the gas tax, to finance our transportation system", according to the governor's website.

In the landmark study, "a Global Positioning System device kept track of the in-state mileage driven by the volunteers. When they bought fuel, a device in their vehicles was read, and they paid 1.2 cents a mile and got a refund of the state gas tax of 24 cents a gallon"

"Critics worried that the technology could be used to track where vehicles go, not just how far they travel, and that this information would somehow be stored by the government."

The final report was sensitive to the topic:

"The concept requires no transmission of vehicle travel locations, either in real time or of travel history," the report said. "Accordingly, no travel location points are stored within the vehicle or transmitted elsewhere. Thus there can be no ‘tracking' of vehicle movements."

"Eventually, GPS devices would have to start being built into cars, and fueling stations would have to be similarly equipped."

Thanks to Leonard Conly

Saturday, December 27, 2008 in Corvallis Gazette Times

View of small-town street with brick buildings and cars parked in diagonal parking with string lights going across street in Cleveland County, Oklahoma.

Norman, Oklahoma Eliminates Parking Mandates

The city made a subtle, one-word change that frees up developers to build parking based on actual need and eliminates costly unnecessary parking.

September 14, 2023 - Next City

Few passengers waiting in subway station with multiple platforms and "North Station" signs in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Transit Riders Report Safety Concerns

Almost three-quarters of current and former riders report feeling unsafe while using MBTA services.

September 18, 2023 - Hoodline

View of Boston from Bunker Hill with statue in foreground

Boston to Begin Zoning Code Update, Mayor Announces

It’s been nearly 60 years, but the city of Boston is finally ready to do a comprehensive rewrite of its zoning code.

September 14, 2023 - The Boston Globe

View of San Francisco neighborhood from top of hill with misty bay in background.

San Francisco Supervisors Punt Housing Ordinance

After hours of public comment, the zoning reform package aimed at increasing housing production and limiting red tape was delayed for further discussion.

1 hour ago - SF Standard

Woman wearing helmet riding POGOH bike share bike in bike lane in Pittsburgh, PA.

Pittsburgh Launches Adaptive Bike Share Fleet

The new bikes include a recumbent bicycle and a front-loading cargo bike.

3 hours ago - Pittsburgh Magazine

Pair of hands holding compost above pile of soil and food scraps.

EPA Awards $4 Million for Baltimore Composting Facility

The city wants to build the nation’s largest composting facility as part of its ‘zero waste’ efforts.

5 hours ago - Baltimore Sun