In this opinion piece on how to pay for roads, Noel Popwell gives 5 reasons for switching from gas tax to vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) fee revenue collection - even if the Highway Trust Fund wasn't facing insolvency next year. Obama is opposed to it.
The main reason the VMT fee is being promoted in most circles is because the gas tax, currently 18.4-cents per gallon, by not being raised regularly (last time was in 1993 by 4.3 cents) or indexed for inflation, has shown itself to be an unsustainable form of transportation revenue. Noel Popwell, "a freelance writer and a revenue analyst with New Jersey state government", argues that aside from being sustainable revenue generator, the fee should be considered for five reasons:
- Gas taxes lack fairness: As The New York Times Sunday Review Opinion observed on August 12, "Fully electric cars are still a niche product bought mostly by affluent drivers" (who pay no road taxes). In January, Streetsblog's Tanya Snyder reported on the U.S. General Accountability Office finding in December, 2012 that a "Mileage Fee Could Be More 'Equitable and Efficient' Than Gas Tax".
- Congestion mitigation: A variable, as opposed to flat, per-mile fee, increasing with the level of congestion, would provide a financial incentive to travel off-peak. Similarly, less congested roads could charge a lower fee
- Pro-environment: The fee itself has the potential to reduce driving and encourage use of alternatives. For short trips, the bicycle becomes more attractive, financially speaking.
- Allows modern technology to replace "a complex shifting of the costs of the tax along the gasoline supply chain, from refiners and wholesalers to retailers and consumers."
- The pricing technology spurs economic investment and job creation in order "to develop and install on-board devices on new vehicles, deploy the required supporting infrastructure, and set up collections and enforcement systems."
Popwell writes that the GAO found that all states "reported strong support for federal action to move toward this new financing method. And more than half cited the administrative costs of implementing the system as a serious barrier to moving ahead."
Popwell doesn't ask President Obama to support VMT fees per se, rather, he wants the administration to drop "its opposition to the concept and provid(e) the resources needed to fund ongoing state pilot programs, and start new ones".
On a related note, Ore. Gov. John Kitzhaber signed SB 810 on August 14, creating the nation's first VMT fee. However, it it is only available for up to 5,000 motorists who will pay a VMT fee of 1.5-cents for every mile they drive instead of the 30-cent state fuel excise tax.
New Jersey, the state where Popwell works as a revenue analyst, considered legislation to implement a VMT fee this year. Instead, the legislature opted to charge an additional $50 flat registration fee for EVs - regardless of the amount of miles the vehicle is driven. How smart is that?
FULL STORY: Even If the Trust Fund Were Flush, We Should Still Switch to a VMT Fee

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.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie