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Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) Fees . What’s been done? What’s happening? What do you need to know? Trey Baker Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University System Planning, Policy and Environment Austin Office March 24, 2010. Puget Sound Traffic Choices Study.
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Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) Fees What’s been done? What’s happening? What do you need to know? Trey Baker Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University System Planning, Policy and Environment Austin Office March 24, 2010
Puget Sound Traffic Choices Study Washington State Road User Charge Assessment Minnesota DOT Road Fee Test Oregon DOT Road User Fee Pilot New York City DOT DriveSmart Program Nevada DOT VMT Fee Study University of Iowa National Evaluation Colorado DOT MBUF Study I-95 Corridor Coalition Multi-State VMT Fee Concept VA Pilot or Field Test Complete as of 2011 Ongoing Pilot or Field Test Interest in Pilot or Field Test
What has been done? Initial pilots looked at feasibility. Is this even a good idea?
The Oregon Pilot (in a nutshell) Pay-at-the-Pump Model
Where are we now? Focus is increasingly on how to implement
The Minnesota Pilot (in a nutshell) Focus on off-the-shelf technology components Technology positioned as an optional discounting mechanism
National Efforts • Exploratory Research on Technology Options for Collection of Road User Fees (Underway) • Additional federal efforts are unlikely at this time • There is no MBUF / VMT language in MAP 21
It is unlikely that any government entity will “force you to install a tracking device” in your car • Detailed location data is not necessary • Technology should be presented as an optional discounting mechanism • Mandating of safety related devices for OEMs is more likely
The fuel tax is likely to remain in place for a very long time • The Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) is not going anywhere • The fuel tax is cheap and easy to collect
A paradigm shift in how Americans view transportation will be required before serious consideration of VMT fees can occur • Perceptions of the personal vehicle and freedom of travel are changing • Generational differences in privacy concerns and technology acceptance
Equity issues are likely to play the biggest role in generating support for change • Funding shortfalls don’t click with the public • “Pay for what you use” has saliency • Oregon is emphasizing fairness in implementing fees on electric vehicles
For more information… http://utcm.tamu.edu/mbuf • Mileage-based User Fee Symposium documents • Primer • TTI research • Links to news, pilot studies and other resources • Listserv Trey Baker r-baker@ttimail.tamu.edu Ginger Goodin g-goodin@tamu.edu (512) 467-0946