Posted on 01/27/2019 11:14:11 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
More than 60 years ago, the interstate highway system was envisioned to connect the country from coast to coast. Initially, a modest 3-cents-per-gallon tax on gasoline and diesel fuel was established and wholly dedicated to the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges.
The vision became reality and exceeded expectations, connecting communities, making travel easier, and improving the flow of commerce. A short time later, the gasoline and diesel tax was increased to 4 cents per gallon—where it stayed until 1983, when it was doubled.
Unfortunately, this also marked the point in which highway taxes began to be diverted to non-highway projects, including public transportation systems. It wasn’t long before revenue diversion expanded greatly, bringing us to today, when 36 cents of every tax dollar paid by highway users are diverted to non-highway programs.
We continually find ourselves discussing a revenue shortfall for our nation’s transportation network for a couple of reasons: Billions of highway dollars are diverted for other uses, and federal and state fuel taxes have not been adjusted to reflect inflation.
Gasoline and diesel taxes are capable of supporting our infrastructure needs, but policymakers at every level of government refuse to address the underlying problems that got us to this point.
As a result, many states continue to explore and enact alternative methods to generate new revenue, to the detriment of all highway users. This is evident in Indiana with the Indiana Toll Road, which is one of the most expensive stretches of highway in the country on a per-mile basis, especially for truckers.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibj.com ...
PING.
Agreed. Localities that want mass transit should subsidize it themselves. The gas tax should fund only expenses related to roads.
Politicians start taxing us for roads, divert the money elsewhere, and roads (SURPRISE) don’t have enough money. Possible solutions are:
1. Stop diverting the tax money.
2. Raise taxes.
Gee, I wonder which one is favored?
In Europe, things are even worse. $8 gas comes from having to pay for “free” single payer health care. We are “fortunate” gas taxes only pay for transportation-related expenses.
The work will be done with some of the revenues from increased tolls on truckers on the Indiana Toll Road.
And that is exactly what the state does, and has been doing for decades.
Here in SE Virginia (Norfolk area) the Commonwealth (state) sold off the maintenance of two bridge tunnels to a foreign company called Elizabeth River Tunnels. The formerly free tunnels have become toll roads, and the tolls keep going up. And the contract is such that it cannot be gotten out of. Meanwhile, the entire region is suffering from reduced commerce due to the high tolls.
The federal government prohibits states or the federal government from establishing tolls on “existing” interstate highways so states add on to those interstates and then charge a toll which is apparently legal but makes no sense.
Doesn’t matter how much you tax fuels or any item for that matter because whatever the original tax is implemented for the funds collected will be used for whatever the azzholes in local, state and federal government want to use it for.
A portion of the “liquid fuels” tax (EV owners get a free ride!) is diverted to the Pennsylvania State Police and a portion is diverted to subsidizing SEPTA, the Philly area transit system.
Some of the Turnpike tolls—which are going to keep increasing every January thanks to legislation passed under the $pendell administration—also go to subsidize SEPTA.
Philly should be ceded to NJ; then we’d be rid of that craphole.
The state of California raised gas taxes and not a single dime is going for road repair. Either some other not needed project or for the most part for the fat pensions for state workers.
$1B to be invested in state infrastructure projects (9/4/18)
This is what is going on with the toll hike on trucks using the Indiana Toll Road.
I offer this as a third alternative:
“Politicians are like diapers: they should be changed often, and for the same reason.”
Attributed to Mark Twain, but probably from a Reader’s Digest fan named Willie.
At what point will y’all get pissed off and do something about these ruinous taxes?
Gotta be something y’all can do?
Who did this to you and when?
I do. I take untaxed state roads, side-roads, backroads, shortcuts etc; haven’t taken a toll road in 30+yrs. I don’t have a clue what to do about gas taxes. Too many scumbags, lowlifes and corrupt-niks in Harrisburg to fight that.
untaxed = untolled
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