The Impact of Energy Efficient Vehicles on Gas Tax (Highway Trust Fund) and Alternative Funding for Infrastructure Construction, Upgrade, and Maintenance

Final report.PDFTech ReportMIOH UTC TS51 2012-FinalEnergyFuelsTaxesFuel taxesFinancingRevenuesInfrastructureConstructionMaintenanceUnited StatesMichigan Ohio University Transportation CenterDutta, UtpalPatel, NishitaMichigan Ohio University Transportation CenterUniversity Transportation Centers Program (U.S.)United States. Federal Highway AdministrationNTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTNTL-ECONOMICS AND FINANCE-ECONOMICS AND FINANCENTL-ECONOMICS AND FINANCE-FundingUS Transportation CollectionRoad construction, upgrades, and maintenance have largely been financed by a gas tax since the first tax on fuel was instituted by the federal government in 1932. Monies from the gas tax and other sources are deposited in the Highway Trust Fund to handle the country\ue2\u20ac\u2122s transportation infrastructure needs. States also tax fuel to varying degrees. As a result the average fuel tax paid by U.S. drivers is 48.8 cents per gallon. However, the taxes have failed to keep up with inflation and need. The country\ue2\u20ac\u2122s crumbling transportation infrastructure is the result. Further, as the researchers have detailed, based on current conditions and forecasts the funding gap is likely to worsen significantly