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We seem to be in total agreement, dan-in-Aloha. My point was that the gasoline tax is an equitable system as compared to a mileage-based tax, not that the tax is adequate to pay for road maintenance. I also suggested that if the gas tax is currently insufficient that it should be raised. Raising the gas tax will also further encourage the development and use of more efficient vehicles.

On a separate note, BringtheRain commented earlier on needing funds for construction of new roads and expansion of existing roads. On that basis, drivers who use the passing lanes when they aren't passing should be hit with an extra high tax for using existing roads so grossly inefficiently. In parts of the country with much more severe overcrowding (notably the Northeast Corridor), all highways are posted "Keep Right Except to Pass." If drivers in Oregon would just follow this rule and if ODOT would post all highways with these signs, congestion would be reduced considerably. Traffic engineers all know that systematically keeping in the right lane unless passing, greatly improves the efficient use of lanes until the level of traffic reaches capacity (at which point congestion is unavoidable). Every time I drive on I-5, I see this firsthand as selfish or thoughtless drivers putz along in the passing lanes snarling traffic on a road well below it's maximum capacity. The thoughtlessness of these drivers is only exceeded by the nuts who weave through lanes to get past them.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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I'm so glad you are covering this topic because I am baffled at why the Governor is even considering this idea. We already have a very equitable system to pay for roads in the gas tax. What benefit can possibly be derived from spending money on devices to track mileage driven? I've heard that the justification is that funding for roads is declining as people drive less and drive more efficient vehicles, but that can't be an accurate and complete justification. Certainly, as a society we should be encouraging people to drive less and more efficiently. To raise more money for roads, the gas tax should be increased. This solution would address the problem without the cost of the proposed gps systems installed in every vehicle. I want to hear a thorough explanation of why the Governor thinks the mileage-based tax is desirable.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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