Colorado mileage-based user fee study.

PDFTech ReportCDOT-2013-1630.51FinancingHighway user taxationHighwaysImplementationState of the practiceRecommendationsPublic opinionColoradoColorado. Dept. of Transportation. Research BranchUngemah, David H.Swenson, Chris R.Juriga, JessicaBaker, Richard T.Goodin, VirginiaParsons BrinckerhoffTexas A&M Transportation InstituteUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThe Transportation Research Board, Government Accountability Office, and Colorado TransportationFinance and Implementation Panel (CTFIP) suggested that Colorado pursue fees based on actual travelas an alternative to the fuel tax. Revenues from mileage-based user fees (MBUF) would not vary basedon fleet fuel consumption and would instead return revenue in proportion to use of the roadwaynetwork. The 2008 CTFIP recommended specifically that the Colorado Department of Transportation(CDOT) study MBUF in more detail. This research project investigated the application of mileagebaseduser fees, and more expansively road usage charges, as a possible mechanism to improvefunding for transportation. The final report documents: 1) state of the practice in MBUF; 2)stakeholder and public perceptions of MBUF in Colorado; 3) operations guidance; and 4)recommendations for next steps. This yielded the primary conclusion: although a mileage-based userfee system can be created in Colorado so that all Colorado drivers pay their proportional share ofroadway system costs, significant issues remain from technical, policy, and public acceptanceperspectives.ImplementationToo many operational and technological questions remain unanswered, and must be tested andevaluated before the state would be ready to commit to a statewide implementation of this strategy.Rather, alternative short-term measures that can accomplish many of the objectives of mileage-baseduser fees \ue2\u20ac\u201c namely, an increase in revenue and better distribution of payment from alternative fuel andfuel high-efficiency vehicles \ue2\u20ac\u201c should be evaluated and considered