Highway Trust Fund

Road Builders Seek Federal Gas Tax and Rebate Plan

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association seeks to pair a gas tax with a repatriation tax that would rebate the revenue to tax filers. ARTBA joined other infrastructure advocates to oppose current efforts to eliminate the gas tax.

March 18, 2015 - AASHTO Journal

The Tax Foundation's Take on Mileage-Based User Fees

An economist from the Tax Foundation spoke to advocates of a mileage-based user fees. First surprise, he calls it a tax, not a fee. He appears to favor the MBUF over the gas tax, but notes its problems.

March 17, 2015 - Tax Foundation

Freeway Construction

Needed: A Fresh Approach to Funding U.S. Infrastructure

Kenneth Orski, editor and publisher of Innovation NewsBriefs, examines how state governments are beginning to accept more responsibility for transportation funding.

February 11, 2015 - C. Kenneth Orski

Unlikely Duo Propose Alternative to Obama's Tax to Fund Infrastructure

A few days before President Obama announced his 14 percent offshore corporate profits tax, Sens. Rand Paul and Barbara Boxer teamed-up to announce they would be offering a repatriation tax, somewhat similar to Obama's tax. Both fund infrastructure.

February 3, 2015 - The Bond Buyer

Obama 2016 Budget: New Tax to Yield $238 Billion for Highway Trust Fund

President Barack Obama is expected to propose a one-time, 14-percent tax on overseas profits from companies, resulting in a contribution of $238 billion toward a total $478 billion, six-year Highway Trust Fund package. But will Republicans agree?

February 2, 2015 - The Hill

Wall Street Journal Editorial: Abolish Federal Gas Tax

As May 31 approaches—the date when the current patch bill that supplements insufficient gas tax revenues to the Highway Trust Fund expires, The Wall Street Journal, a favorite among many conservative political leaders, sends an unhelpful message.

January 21, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

Conservative Columnist Promotes $1 Gas Tax Alternative

Charles Krauthammer offers his own brand of gas tax hike that differs from others mentioned recently. One, it's much bigger. Two, revenues won't be used for transportation. It would be revenue neutral; all funds would be returned to taxpayers.

January 17, 2015 - The Washington Post

Transportation Think Tank Recommends Ending Highway Trust Fund

The non-partisan Eno Center for Transportation has had it with futile attempts to raise the federal gas tax and the never-ending transfers (bailouts?) from the federal general fund to keep roads and transit funded. "Pay as you go" no longer works.

December 20, 2014 - Logistics Management

Republican Governors, Encouraged by Low Gas Prices, to Raise Gas Taxes

While there may never be a good time to increase the federal gas tax, the same is not true when it comes to state gas taxes—perhaps because governors can't transfer billions of dollars from general funds to pay for roads. Lower gas prices helps.

December 12, 2014 - NPR

Is There Ever a Good Time to Increase the Federal Gas Tax?

Oil prices are at a five-year low with gasoline prices averaging $2.67 a gallon, lowest since February 2010. Furthermore, they are expected to drop another 17 cents to $2.50 a gallon in time for Christmas, so why not raise the gas tax by a nickel?

December 10, 2014 - The Atlantic

Republican Co-Sponsors Rep. Earl Blumenauer's 15-cent Gas Tax Bill

The good news is that a House Republican now supports raising the gas tax to balance the ailing Highway Trust Fund. The bad news is that come Jan. 3, Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.), a 36-year member, will be a former congressman—he is retiring on Dec. 26

December 8, 2014 - The Huffington Post

Crumbling concrete bridge

60 Minutes Examines America's Failing Infrastructure

Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes reviews road, rail, bridges, and ports to see how much investment is needed to improve the country's infrastructure, beginning in Pittsburgh and ending at a key Amtrak rail bridge in New Jersey.

November 25, 2014 - CBS News: 60 Minutes

 Decatur Marta station

Majority of Americans Favor Funding for Transit Over Funding for Roads

In a poll conducted by ABC News and the Washington Post, Americans were found to prefer allocating transportation funding towards transit expansion rather than road widening.

October 26, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

More Evidence that a Fully Funded MAP-21 Reauthorization is Possible

Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is the second powerful congressman to state that a fully funded, five to six year reauthorization bill can be done, acknowledging that funding challenges lie ahead.

October 13, 2014 - AASHTO Journal

State Transportation Funding Falling Faster than Federal Transportation Funding

A new analysis form the Pew Charitable Trusts showed a 20 percent reduction in state spending on transportation between 2002 and 2011, compared to a 4 percent drop from the federal government over the same period.

September 26, 2014 - Governing

The Danger of Federal Money for Local Projects

Scott Beyer provides four reasons why federal money is the wrong policy mechanism for delivering the best possible transportation outcomes in the United States.

August 29, 2014 - Next City

Gas Tax Amendments Headed to Voters in Maryland, Wisconsin

Preventing gas tax and vehicle registration fee revenues from being used for non-transportation purposes is seen as key to increasing transportation revenue, be it through raising gas taxes or approving new revenue options, in Maryland and Wisconsin.

August 9, 2014 - Transport Topics

The Role Infrastructure Employment Plays Throughout The United States

Brookings illuminates which states rely heaviest on infrastructure for employment as local policymakers are struggling with reliable federal funding throughout the peak of construction season.

August 8, 2014 - Brookings Institute

Senate Passes House Transportation Funding Bill; On to Obama

After the House rejected the Senate's amendments to their Highway Trust Fund extension bill, the Senate passed the bill 81-13 on July 31. Payments to states will continue unchanged through May 2015 when the next hurdle awaits

August 1, 2014 - The Hill

Senate Passes Transportation Bill; House Not Likely to Play Ball

Three days before Congress goes on recess and with the Highway Trust Fund approaching insolvency, the Senate passed a transportation bill notably different than the House version passed July 15, setting up a showdown between the two branches.

July 30, 2014 - POLITICO Pro.

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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