States Take the Lead in Implementing Driving Fees

With D.C. abandoning its leadership position in funding road infrastructure improvements, states such as Oregon and Minnesota are going forward with pilot plans to transition to road usage fees.

2 minute read

June 6, 2012, 6:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Larry Copeland and Paul Overberg report on declining transportation revenues due to greatly increased fuel efficiency and prospects to ameliorate the trend by charging drivers for their road usage at the state, rather than federal, level.

"Minnesota and Oregon already are testing technology to keep track of mileage. Other states, including Washington and Nevada, are preparing similar projects."

A major impediment is the privacy issue. Mention "GPS" and "big brother" jumps into the minds of those wary of government snooping in private lives.

"Oregon is recruiting volunteers for a pilot program starting in September to examine other ways (not using GPS technology) of reporting mileage, including use of in-vehicle technology similar to that used to locate charging stations for owners of electric vehicles.

"In Minnesota, 500 volunteers in largely urban Hennepin and mostly rural Wright counties have been testing a system using software installed on smartphones, says Chris Krueger, spokeswoman for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. "We can collect trip info and be able to simulate what it would be like to have a mileage-based user fee," she says.

"MinnDOT will provide a report on their research when the pilot is complete in December. "We know that eventually there will be an issue of not having enough revenue from the gas tax," Krueger says.

"A federal miles-traveled tax is unlikely, Joshua Schank, president of the non-partisan Eno Center for Transportation in Washington, D.C., says. "So far, the federal government has been terrified of even talking about this. The federal government needs to take a leadership role in helping states do this. You want to have sharing of information, compatibility across state lines."

Thanks to Loren Spiekerman

Monday, June 4, 2012 in USA Today

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 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight