Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Gas Tax

American Roads Depend on Handouts From Bus Riders, Cyclists, Pedestrians

By Angie Schmitt | May 5, 2015 | No Comments

Once upon a time in America, the road system was largely funded by the gas tax. But that was many Highway Trust Fund bailouts ago. Today, only about half the money spent on the U.S. road system comes from fuel taxes, tolls, or other fees paid by drivers, according to a new report [PDF] by the U.S. Public Interest […]

Study: Most Roads Don’t Pay for Themselves

By Angie Schmitt | May 4, 2015 | No Comments

Most American roads — even the most highly trafficked — are financial losers. That’s a major finding from a new study by the Center for American Progress [PDF]. A financial analysis by the think tank found that about four out of 10 U.S. highways don’t carry enough traffic to generate sufficient revenue to pay for their maintenance […]

Chris Christie Keeps Trying to Balance NJ’s Books on Backs of Transit Riders

By Angie Schmitt | Apr 23, 2015 | No Comments

Governor Chris Christie has really made a mess of New Jersey’s transportation finances. Since 2011, the governor’s “flipping the couch cushions” strategy has resulted in the state amassing an additional $5.2 billion in debt. New Jersey’s gas tax has not increased since the 1980s and is the second lowest in the nation. Without new revenue, predictably enough the […]

Ranking the Sad Parade of Federal Transpo Funding Ideas From Worst to Best

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 19, 2015 | No Comments

The problem seems simple enough: The federal transportation program is going broke because Washington has allowed the gas tax to be eroded by inflation for more than 20 years. As obvious as raising the gas tax may be, America’s political leaders won’t touch it. Yesterday, The Hill reported that Congressman Bill Shuster, chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is ruling out […]

Building Cloverleafs Won’t Inspire Americans to Pay More for Transportation

By Ben Ross | Jul 23, 2014 | No Comments

Originally posted at Dissent. The federal transportation fund is running out of money, threatening the country with potholes, stopped construction, and economic downturn. Congress, which has kept the program solvent with short-term patches for years, now finds itself unable to do more than buy a few months’ time. Mainstream opinion pins the blame for this state […]

Is Obama Opposed to the Bipartisan Gas Tax Proposal or Just Noncommittal?

By Tanya Snyder | Jun 24, 2014 | No Comments

Yesterday, The Huffington Post ran this headline: “White House Appears More Open To A Gas Tax Hike.” Minutes later, The Hill published this one: “White House opposes gas tax hike to fix transportation funding.” So, which is it? The Hill’s headline was based on a statement by new White House press secretary Josh Earnest, who said about […]

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