AASHTO Journal, 15 July 2016
The California Department of Transportation on July 5 launched the state’s pay-by-mile Road Charge Pilot Program, by which a group of volunteer participants will provide information that could help lawmakers decide whether to pay for infrastructure through mileage-based user fees instead of traditional motor fuel taxes.
Caltrans said that “no actual money will be exchanged during the pilot,” but 5,000 participants will “make simulated payments based on how far they drive.” They will test various mileage reporting systems over the next nine months, including some that use satellite-linked location tracking and systems that do not track vehicles.
The announcement said the pilot “will provide the Legislature with the data needed to better determine whether a road charge funding concept is viable for California.”
“We’re proud that thousands of Californians have signed up to volunteer for the California Road Charge Pilot Program,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “The opportunity to provide valuable input and evaluate the viability of a mileage-based user fee system demonstrates the commitment that Californians have to our roads and keeping them well maintained.”
The volunteers that were accepted to participate include drivers from all parts of the state and with varied socioeconomic backgrounds.
Caltrans is also including some out-of-state volunteers “in order to help California determine how a road charge tax could impact visiting drivers.”
The program provides various travel reporting options, from purchasing permits for unlimited driving for a specific time period to manually reporting odometer readings, using plug-in devices and mobile phone applications, or reporting through in-vehicle telematics services that are available in newer models.
After the pilot period ends next March, the California State Transportation Agency will report findings to the Road Charge Technical Advisory Committee, the California Transportation Commission and policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature. Lawmakers will ultimately decide whether to develop a full-scale, permanent road charge program in California.
However, said Caltrans, “even if the Legislature decides not to implement a road charge, California will still be in need of a more sustainable roadway funding mechanism than the current fuel excise tax. The fuel excise tax only funds approximately $2.3 billion of work to maintain the 50,000 lane-miles and nearly 13,000 state-owned bridges on the state highway system. This leaves nearly $5.7 billion in unfunded repairs each year.”
California is among a group of western states considering systems that charge drivers direct user fees for the highway infrastructure. Oregon launched a volunteer mileage-based fee program last summer, and Caltrans said others including Washington, Colorado and Utah are exploring the road charge concept.
This Caltrans video has more information on the pilot program.