fuel prices

[belfert]

In Minnesota, the gas tax is dedicated to only highways by the state constitution.  This hasn't stopped politicians from trying to slap other taxes on gas that aren't technically a gas tax.  Those taxes could be used for anything politicians want to spend them on.

[luvrbus]

Interstates are FED funded built by Fed specifications the states do maintain the highways as the Fed funds dictate.The Interstate System is a Federal system and always has been,we in AZ and NV are getting another interstate that ties Phoenix to Las Vegas.The Interstate system in AZ went to hell when Obama  withheld funds because him a Jan Brewer got into a pissing contest.I know for a fact since I did highway work in Texas and OK not 1 penny of the state money goes to fund interstate maintaince back east it may work different but I doubt it,Didn't they just have problem with Fed on funding for maintaince     

[chessie4905]

I could imagine Fed funding is probably allocated according to which party controls the allocation direction to specific state's interstates.

[chessie4905]

I could imagine Fed funding is probably allocated according to which party controls the allocation direction to specific state's interstates.

[Busted Knuckle]

I don't know all the particulars of how and what is allowed toll wise but I do know that I was once told that if the state (or some private source) put up the $ to build the hwy they could charge tolls until the $, plus interest, plus maintenance fees up to that point was paid back.
I was also told that KY was one only a few states that did that honored the deal and took tolls off after the $ was repaid.
I can assure you that the toll $ being collected in the Chicago/N. IN area as well as the OH & PA turnpikes is NOT being spent on maintenance! (or any of the bridges coming out of NJ for that matter)

Now speaking of tolls on the bridges coming OUT of but not going into NJ.
Do you know why they only charge coming out but not going in?
Because NOBODY in there right mind would EVER PAY to go into NJ, but EVERYONE is willing to pay to get the HELL OUT of there!
  BK 

[dtcerrato]

Same reason why there are fences & gates around cemeteries because people are just dieing to get in!

[chessie4905]

Usually, being #1 is great. This, not so much. I avoid it 98% of the time.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/39672/the-pennsylvania-turnpike-is-the-worlds-most-expensive-toll-road-study

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/why-pa-turnpike-tolls-soared-and-will-continue-rising-for-next-30-years/

Those dump trailers used in Mi would be exorbitant  on the turnpike. Yikes!

And the turnpike charges by the axle whether single or dual wheel.

[richard5933]

Interstates are FED funded built by Fed specifications the states do maintain the highways as the Fed funds dictate.The Interstate System is a Federal system and always has been,we in AZ and NV are getting another interstate that ties Phoenix to Las Vegas.The Interstate system in AZ went to hell when Obama  withheld funds because him a Jan Brewer got into a pissing contest.I know for a fact since I did highway work in Texas and OK not 1 penny of the state money goes to fund interstate maintaince back east it may work different but I doubt it,Didn't they just have problem with Fed on funding for maintaince   

Maybe in your neck of the woods, but there are many stretches of roads designated as part of the Interstate Highway system here in Wisconsin that were built as state roads originally and only later merged into the Interstate system.

True, the Interstate Highway designation is a federal designation, but there are many roads built partially or wholly with state funds that are part of the system.

Federal funding for roads and getting an Interstate Highway designation are not always in sync. When toll roads are in play things get even more confusing, even more so when a state tries to privatize a piece of infrastructure on an Interstate Highway (yes, it happens.)

[luvrbus]

Maybe in your neck of the woods, but there are many stretches of roads designated as part of the Interstate Highway system here in Wisconsin that were built as state roads originally and only later merged into the Interstate system.

True, the Interstate Highway designation is a federal designation, but there are many roads built partially or wholly with state funds that are part of the system.

Federal funding for roads and getting an Interstate Highway designation are not always in sync. When toll roads are in play things get even more confusing, even more so when a state tries to privatize a piece of infrastructure on an Interstate Highway (yes, it happens.)

States are allowed to make parts of the Interstate System a toll road that has always been a option,if they use part of a state hiway which I never saw before you can bet the farm the state was paid big money,they always use a US highway like US 59 or US 75 in Texas became part of the interstate system same here in AZ US 93 and US 95 are part of Interstate 11 now

[freds]

Ok I hear you about fuel taxes and on the other side I absolutely do not agree with mileage travel taxes and it adds to much of an intrusion and bureaucratic overhead to collect and penalize errors.

States tend to add a licensing surcharge for electrical vehicles, however that doesn't flow to the federal level for when you travel out of state.

However when you are trying to raise a new crop, do you really want to piss all over the seed corn?

[richard5933]

Ok I hear you about fuel taxes and on the other side I absolutely do not agree with mileage travel taxes and it adds to much of an intrusion and bureaucratic overhead to collect and penalize errors.

States tend to add a licensing surcharge for electrical vehicles, however that doesn't flow to the federal level for when you travel out of state.

However when you are trying to raise a new crop, do you really want to piss all over the seed corn?

I hear you about the privacy issues, but with traffic cams an surveillance everywhere I operate on the assumption that the privacy ship sailed a long time ago.

Most newer vehicles have the ability to automatically record the data necessary to track mileage traveled in each state, just like the commercial truck fleet has been doing for years. Many even have the ability to automatically submit the data wirelessly.

Would obviously not work for vintage vehicles like many of us drive, but for newer vehicles it sure seems a more equitable way to divvy up the costs - use a formula which takes into account the weight of the vehicle, number of tires, etc. and let everyone pay their fare share of road use taxes rather than basing it on an arbitrary number like the number of gallons pumped. Used to be the number of gallons was directly related to the distance traveled, but no longer. Some cars get 10 mpg while others will never pump an ounce.

[belfert]

In Minnesota federal funds certainly aren't paying the full cost of interstate highways.  State funds pay for the majority of interstate construction.

[Utahclaimjumper]

 
Make sense that the people in your state use it more than others..>>>Dan

[lvmci]

Not in Nevada, certainly even more so in Southern Nevada. Even at a stop light in the suburbs, half the cars are from out of state. lvmci...

[windtrader]

I wonder how they'll get their $$ when we start flying around in George Jetson air transport vehicles. Charge for using air? Going to only get more crazy. And yes, this shall come as plenty of prototypes are working.