DC Velocity - June 2019

BY MITCH MAC DONALD, GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR outbound

Free ride

56 DC VELOCITY JUNE 2019 www.dcvelocity.com
THE TIME HAS COME TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE
that to adequately update and expand the interstate highways will
require roughly $45 billion to $70 billion per year for
our approach to funding the nation’s infrastructure. That’s one
the next two decades. By way of comparison, state
of the key conclusions of a report issued six months ago by the
and federal spending on interstates has averaged
Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) Committee on the Future
about $25 billion annually in recent years.

Interstate Highway System. The question, as always, is how.

To finance the work, the TRB committee pro-The report, Renewing the National Commitment to the Interstate

poses an increase in the fuel tax in the near term as

Highway System: A Foundation for the Future, is based on a
well as allowing tolls and per-mile charges on more
wide-ranging study of the actions needed to upgrade the nation’s
interstate roads. Because of decades-old restrictions
interstate highways. In addition to outlining an ambitious high-
barring the use of federal money for toll roads,
way modernization plan, the report’s authors offer recommenda-
only about 7 percent, or roughly 3,000 miles, of the
tions for financing what amounts to a wholesale overhaul of the

47,000-mile interstate highway system is currently system’s deteriorating pavements and bridges.

subject to tolls.

“The interstates have long been the backbone
Were it not for the aforemen-

of our country’s transportation system, but
tioned “technological advanc-

most of them have exceeded their design lives
es” that have spurred the rise
and in many places are worn and overused,”
of electric vehicles, the TRB’s

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said Norman Augustine, former chairman and
recommendation would get a

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CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp. and chair
ringing endorsement here. The

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of the committee that wrote the report, in a
growth in the use of electric cars
statement. “These aging interstates are highly
and trucks, though, is a reality.

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congested oftentimes and in need of recon-
Ignoring reality is risky at best

struction. Furthermore, technological advances
and perilous at worst.

are offering new opportunities, but they may
An increase in the federal (and
also undermine a principal source of income
likely state) fuel taxes would
for the interstates, namely the tax on fuel.”
serve only to amplify an existing
That last point is a crucial one. An epic over-
inequity. There can be no “free
haul will require an epic investment. And that
rides” built into the funding
means rethinking the way we fund highway
scheme. And that is exactly what
improvements. Right now, most of the money for federal road
an increase in the motor fuels tax would provide.

projects comes from the excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. But
The answer then must be tolls. The ban on inter-
that’s not a sustainable financing path for the future.

state tolling must be lifted and user charges assessed
For one thing, revenues from the fuel tax, which hasn’t been
in an equitable way. Drivers of all vehicles must pay
raised since 1993, constantly come up short, forcing Congress
their fair share of infrastructure costs based on how
to dip into the general treasury to pay for roadwork. If the cur-
much they use the system, meaning how many miles
rent system isn’t meeting today’s needs, it certainly won’t meet
they drive.

tomorrow’s.

It is not only time to reverse the pattern of neglect
For another, thanks to the “technological advances” Augustine
and underfunding of our interstate highways, but
cites, more people are driving electric vehicles and thus, pay no
also time to put an end to free rides.

fuel taxes. They are getting a truly free ride on our nation’s interstate highways. This will have to change. We need all road-users to pitch in if we hope to create a highway system for the 21st century.