The motor fuel tax has funded America’s roads for over 70 years. It has served its
purpose well and has many positive features, the most important being that it is
easy to pay (many people may not even be aware that their total at the gas pump
includes this tax).
However, the gas tax may need updating. Reasons for this include:
-
Current trends are threatening the ability of the tax to continue to pay for our
roads. As hybrids and hydrogen-fueled vehicles become more common, funds generated
will steadily decline. Even higher fuel efficiency means we may no longer be able
to afford the quality transportation services that we have become accustomed to.
- The jurisdiction in which fuel is purchased often is not the one in which travel
actually takes place. Therefore, sometimes drivers do not pay for the construction
and maintenance of the roads on which they drive.
