Gas taxes are not sufficient to pay for our infrastructure, however simply raising gas taxes is not a balanced approach to increasing our transportation fund, although we should raise gas taxes to reduce demand. More fuel efficient vehicles are becoming popular, and they do as much if not more (... more
Gas taxes are not sufficient to pay for our infrastructure, however simply raising gas taxes is not a balanced approach to increasing our transportation fund, although we should raise gas taxes to reduce demand. More fuel efficient vehicles are becoming popular, and they do as much if not more (due to heavy batteries in hybrids) damage to the roads, yet pay for less of the road cost because they have higher gas mileage. From a funding for infrastructure stand point, this is not fair. Whoever can afford the latest gas saving vehicle gets to pay for less road work.
We should be taxing in addition to gas, vehicle miles traveled, because that is what actually creates demand for roads and need for repair. Road damage caused by vehicles grows rapidly as you move up in vehicle weight class, so I propose that the vehicle miles traveled tax be multiplied by a factor created for different weight classes. This should spur a sharp decrease in the popularity of SUV's among those who do not need such heavy vehicles.
The funds raised from these taxes should be diversified into a comprehensive transit system that encourages walking, biking and mass transit in addition to the roads them selves, since this increases the efficiency of the entire system. Simply adding lanes to a highway has diminishing returns, and in many cities already built out, there is little room to add more private vehicle capacity.
Tra Vu
Dear Stewart, most people are not even aware of how much they are playing right now in gasoline taxes. Do you? It is unclear whether who would be winners or losers if or when VMT tax is put in effect. I find it incredible that people are so quick to reject any notion of change. We are in a new era now, it is time to make some changes. But first, we need to hold our tongue and listen to what the transportation professionals have to offer in regards to the structure of this tax.
stewart3911
This tax would put an unfair burden on the lower middle class working people who can't afford expensive housing in major metropolitan areas where work exists. They must commute and do pay the most gasoline tax now. If this law would go into affect, they would be the biggest users of fuel and the biggest payers of a VMT Tax. This would negatively impact their spending power and hurt the economy.