Presentation Transcript
TOLL:The Four Letter Word of Transportation Finance : Steve Heminger
Executive Director
Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Transportation Research Board
Executive Committee
June 17, 2005
TOLL: The Four Letter Word of Transportation Finance
Gas Tax is a Goner: Gas Tax is a Goner No federal rate increase since 1993
Less than 1/2 of states have raised their state gas tax since 1993
6 states with tax hikes were due to automatic indexing
Fuel Efficiency Stalls Out: Fuel Efficiency Stalls Out Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004
Explosive Growth of SUVs: Explosive Growth of SUVs Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004 Light Duty Vehicle Sales Trends by Vehicle Type
Far Higher Gasoline Prices Abroad: Far Higher Gasoline Prices Abroad Source: International Energy Agency, 2005 Gasoline Prices for Selected Countries
Retail Gasoline Prices Dwarf Tax Rate: Retail Gasoline Prices Dwarf Tax Rate Source: Energy Information Administration, FHWA, 2005
Slide7: 'Read my Lips: No New Taxes'
— George H. W. Bush, 1988
“Pay As You Go” System: 'Pay As You Go' System Stopped paying — no political will for tax hikes
Stopping going — mounting traffic congestion and repair backlogs
False Trail: The General Fund: False Trail: The General Fund Annual U.S. Transportation Spending Source: The Brookings Institution, 2003
Growing Reliance on Non-User Fees: Growing Reliance on Non-User Fees Source: Surface Transportation Policy Project, 2002
Original Toll Concept — River Chains: Original Toll Concept — River Chains
U.S. History of Toll Roads: U.S. History of Toll Roads Continued next slide
U.S. History of Toll Roads (cont’d): U.S. History of Toll Roads (cont’d) Continued next slide
U.S. History of Toll Roads (cont’d): U.S. History of Toll Roads (cont’d)
Electronic Toll Collection:The Great Enabler: Source: FHWA Electronic Toll Collection: The Great Enabler
Congestion Tolls: Congestion Tolls Source: Institute of Transportation Studies, UCLA
Weight-Distance Truck Tolls: Weight-Distance Truck Tolls Source: Institute of Transportation Studies, UCLA
Slide18: Press Overreaction
Legislative Resistance: 'Tolls are a polite form of highway robbery.'
— Bill Lockyer, California Attorney General Legislative Resistance
Free Lunch Mentality: Free Lunch Mentality
Slide21: www.mtc.ca.gov