Mileage-based Road User Charge Study FAQ's
Who do I contact if I have questions or problems?
As you review these FAQ’s you will likely find answers to your questions. If you
have further questions please contact us by e-mail at
roaduserstudy@uiowa.edu
Road User Study Information
Research Participant Information
Privacy of Information
Compensation
Withdraw from Study Early
Notify the Road User Study Office
Screening Questionnaire
Informed Consent Document
On-Board Computer (OBC) Information
Tolls and Fuel Taxes
Who do I Contact if I Have Questions or Problems?
Current and Future Road User System
What is the study about?
The University of Iowa Public Policy Center is conducting a national study to evaluate
public response to the new mileage-based road user charge system. This system
could one day replace the gas tax. We are looking for participants to help
us develop and test the best possible system for vehicle drivers.
What are the goals of the study?
- To assess the reliability, security, flexibility, user friendliness and cost-effectiveness
of the technology
- To evaluate operator acceptance of such a system
Who is funding the study?
Congress included funding for this evaluation study in the 2005 highway bill.
What are the sites selected for this national study?
The six sites are:
- Chicago, IL
- Billings, MT
- Albuquerque, NM
- Wichita, KS
- Portland, ME
- Miami, FL
How long is participation in the study?
If you are selected to participate in the study, your involvement will last for
10 months.
What are the requirements for participation in the study?
To be in the Road User Study you must:
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Provide proof of vehicle registration
- Provide proof of current insurance
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible for employment in the U.S.
- Own a personal automobile that is compatible with the on-board computer (OBC) (Year 2000 or newer)
- Live in one of the selected study sites
- Plan to reside in the area for the course of the study
- Complete the screening survey (by Internet, telephone, or mail)
- Attend a 1.5 hour training session
What do I have to do if I agree to be in the study?
If you agree to participate in the study you will be required
to do the following:
- Complete a screening survey (either on the Internet or by telephone) that will take
approximately 8-10 minutes to complete.
- Attend a training session (at a location near you) to learn more about the details
of the study (the training session will take approximately one hour and 30 minutes).
- Sign an Informed Consent Document. The Informed Consent Document provides information
detailing the study and the participant requirements. By signing the Informed
Consent Document you acknowledge your understanding of the study and its requirements.
- Schedule an appointment to have the on-board computer installed in your vehicle.
- Complete the 6 assigned short questionnaires (either online, by telephone or by mail).
- Call the Public Policy Center if you sell your vehicle to make arrangements to have
the on-board computer transferred to your new vehicle.
- Contact the Public Policy Center to withdraw from the study if your vehicle is disabled
for more than four weeks.
- Schedule an appointment to have the on-board computer removed from your vehicle
at the end of your participation.
- Complete a comprehensive exit questionnaire at the end of the study.
What documents will I be required to have?
If selected for the study, you will be required to bring the following
items to the training session for study staff to view:
- Vehicle registration
- Valid driver’s license
- Current proof of insurance
Will it cost me anything to be in the study?
You will have no additional costs for being in the study. The usual expenses
that you incur to operate your vehicle will still exist (such as car insurance,
gasoline, vehicle registration, and maintenance, etc.). The OBC will have no impact
on your vehicle's operation.
Privacy of Information
How will the results of the Road User Study be used?
The results will be reported to the Department of Transportation at the conclusion
of the project in 2010. No results will be associated with any one participant.
Rather, results only will be reported in collective form.
Will you share specific information about how I traveled with others?
Your specific travel information will not be shared with anyone outside of the Public
Policy Center.
What about confidentiality?
We will keep your participation in this study confidential to the extent permitted
by law. However, it is possible that other people such as those indicated below
may become aware of your participation in this study and may inspect and copy records
pertaining to this research. Some of these records could contain information that
personally identifies you.
- Federal government regulatory agencies
- Auditing departments of the University of Iowa
- The University of Iowa Institutional Review Board (a committee that reviews and
approves research studies).
To help protect your confidentiality, we will maintain two separate databases
(located on different computer servers), all of which will be maintained in highly
secure locations. The first database will contain your personal demographic information
(name, address, etc.).The second database will contain your questionnaire information
(from the questionnaires that you complete), your
total miles traveled and total cost without a connection to your personal identifying
information. No detailed route information regarding your driving will be stored
or collected. You will be given an arbitrary personal identification number that
you will enter each time you complete a questionnaire on the web. You will also
use this personal identification number to view your road user charges statement.
If you choose to complete the questionnaire by telephone or by mail your assigned
personal identification number will be the only identifier used on the questionnaire.
The connection between your personal ID number and your personal demographic information
can be made only by specifically authorized study staff.
If we write a report or article about this study or share the study data with others,
we will do so in such a way that you cannot be directly identified.
How will I be compensated for my participation?
You will receive a total of $895 over the course of the study.
First, you will receive $300 for attending a participant training session and
allowing the OBC to be installed in your vehicle. You will then receive $40 per month for
the next 8 months as you continue to participate
and answer 6 assigned questionnaires
($40 x 8= $320). Finally, you will receive $275 at the end of the study for having the OBC removed and completing an exit questionnaire about your time in the study.
How will the compensation payments be received?
The University of Iowa will mail you a check after you complete the installation
of the On Board Computer, and will mail you monthly checks as long as you keep current on your
assigned surveys. A final check will be mailed after the OBC is removed from your
vehicle and you complete the final survey.
Withdraw from Study Early
What if I need to withdraw from the study early?
If you withdraw from the study, you will receive payment to the point of withdrawal.
For example, if you participate in the study for six months, you will be compensated
$300 the first month after having the OBC installed in your automobile and $40.00
per month for months 1-6 that you participated ($40.00 x 6=$240.00). Therefore,
your total compensation amount would be $540.00.
Notify the Road User Study Office
What if I trade in or sell my car?
You will have to notify the Public Policy Center to make appointments to have the
OBC removed and reinstalled into the new vehicle in order to continue to participate.
What happens if I go on vacation?
Phone us in advance if you are planning not to use a vehicle for longer than one
week.
What if the media calls me?
Your identity will be kept confidential so it is very unlikely that the media will
learn about your participation in the study. However, if you are contacted by the
media, please contact us. We prefer that you not speak with the media during the
course of the study.
What types of questions will be asked in the screening questionnaire?
The questionnaire includes a variety of questions about demographics, driving behavior
(e.g., your daily driving time) and attitude questions (e.g., do you feel we are
spending too little, too much, or about the right amount of money on highways and
bridges?)
Informed Consent Document
Will I have an opportunity to read and ask questions before signing the Informed
Consent Document?
Yes, the Informed Consent Document will be distributed at the training
session by a member of the University of Iowa research staff and will be reviewed
carefully with/by you. You will have an opportunity at that time to ask any questions
that you may have.
How long will the installation of the OBC take?
The installation of the OBC will take approximately 1.5 - 2 hours.
Will I have to drive a far distance to get to the installation center?
No, installation centers will be located in or near your community. If you
are chosen to participate in the study, we will ask you to sign up at the training
session for a convenient time and location for the OBC installation.
Do I have to pay for the installation or the OBC?
No, once the study is complete (10 months) you will be required to make an appointment
to have the OBC removed from your vehicle.
Will the OBC damage my vehicle?
No, a technician familiar with the device will install the unit. The unit
will be removed by the same technicians at the end of the study and will have no
effect on the functioning or aesthetics of your vehicle.
How can I tell if the OBC is faulty?
You will not be able to determine if the OBC is faulty. However, our technical
team will know if the OBC loses the signal, gets disconnected or becomes disabled
and will contact you to make arrangements for a technician to examine it.
What type of vehicle do I need to be in the study?
The on-board computer can be installed in most vehicles manufactured after 2000.
What information will the OBC be collecting?
The OBC will only keep a record of the number of miles you have driven in a jurisdiction
(city or county). It will not record the specific location or time of your travels.
How will the mileage-based charge be determined for the study?
The OBC will have a Global Positioning System (GPS), which will calculate the distance
you are driving within states and certain counties and municipalities that are represented
in map files. The files are stored in the OBC. Your vehicle will also be given
a certain class identity based on average fuel efficiency. Using the distance you
traveled within each jurisdiction, the per-mile charge for the jurisdiction, and
your vehicle class, the OBC will calculate the total dollar amount that would be
owed if the mileage charge were operational.
Do I still have to pay tolls?
Yes, you will continue to pay tolls on toll roads during the study. The on-board
unit will have no effect on the use of electronic tolling devices, such as EZPASS
or FASTRAK.
Do I still have to pay fuel taxes?
Yes, you will continue to purchase fuel and pay the fuel tax as you do now. You
will not be expected to pay extra for miles traveled while participating in the
study. If actually implemented, the mileage charge would replace the fuel tax, not
be added to it.
Who do I contact if I
have questions or Problems?
If you have further questions
please contact us by e-mail at roaduserstudy@uiowa.edu You may also call us at 1-866-363-1975
(toll free).
What information should I have ready when I call with problems?
Please have your participant ID and the vehicle on board unit information card available when you call the Road User Study call center. You can find the vehicle on board unit information in the glove box of your vehicle.
How are roads and highways currently funded?
The Highway Trust Fund supports transportation infrastructure and receives a majority
of its money from the motor fuel tax, which is imposed on every gallon of gasoline
purchased.
Why is a change in the current system needed?
Over the past ten years, the motor fuel tax has increasingly failed to generate
sufficient funds to repair damaged roads and bridges, fill potholes, and maintain
the safe and efficient operation of our highway system. Improved fuel efficiency
is the main reason.