FRESNO (KMJ) — A by-the-mile road charge is being presented to the people of the valley. It’s part of The California Transportation Committee’s first public forum, with a further seven set to take place across the state.
The committee say the advent of electric cars and the increased efficiency of regular gas driven vehicles are reducing the amount of money raised by the gas tax. They now want to find a new source of revenue to replace it and make it fairer for all drivers, whether their behind the wheel of an electric car or a gas powered car.
“We’re looking at a road charge in California as a way to replace the gas tax, as it’s not keeping pace with the needs”, says Will Kempton with the California Transportation Committee. “As cars become more fuel efficient, we still need to assess people on the cost of driving on the roads and it may be a more equitable way to do that and certainly avoid some of the issues with respect to the gas tax”.
“Our intent is to educate and inform members of the public about what’s going on in transportation”
He says they’re looking at implementing the pilot program next year and test whether or not a price-per-mile charge is even practical.
“The legislator last year passed a bill that creates a technical advisory committee to advise the Secretary of Transportation on how a pilot program should be conducted in the state of California”.
But the price-per-mile charge won’t be the only thing being valley residents are being asked about. They’re also looking for feedback on a range of different issues, which including road funding, road repair and maintenance, and the reasons for the area’s deteriorating transportation system.
