From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov
Transcript for: Highway Trust Fund: Scalability of Mileage Fee Systems -
Director's Summary

Description: Elizabeth Repko discusses our January 2022 report on the
Federal Highway Administration's funding for states to pilot
alternatives to gas tax revenues. FHWA hasn't determined how, if at all,
the state projects funded by this program might inform a national
policy. We recommended doing so.

Related GAO Works: GAO-22-104299.  Highway Trust Fund: Federal Highway
Administration Should Develop and Apply Criteria to Assess How Pilot
Projects Could Inform Expanded Use of Mileage Fee Systems

Released: January 2022

[ GAO's Elizabeth Repko, Director, Physical Infrastructure, outside and
speaking to the camera  ]

[ Elizabeth Repko : ]
   The Highway Trust Fund, the major source of funding for federal roads
and bridges, is largely supported by gas taxes. But as fuel economy
standards increase and more alternative fuel vehicles travel the roads,
this revenue is decreasing. Since 2008, Congress has provided over $270
billion to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent.
   A federal highway program provides funding to states to pilot
alternatives to gas taxes. Since 2016, 13 states have participated. Most
states have chosen to test mileage fee systems in which drivers pay per
mile driven. Some of the systems piloted by states may work at the state
level, but will they work nationwide?
   To find out whether a national mileage fee system is feasible, we
recommended assessing how, if at all, state programs could be scaled up
to the national level. For more information, check out our report at
GAO.gov.
[ End ]

For more info, check out our report GAO-22-104299 at: GAO.gov