A study from the Reason Public Policy Institute in the United States suggests the need for new toll roads in America but advises policy makers to use new technologies so as to avoid the need for stopping at toll booths.
There is a growing need for highway investment, but the value of fuel taxes for road construction and maintenance has been shrinking. Either taxes must be raised substantially, the study argues, or more tolls collected to finance highway programmes.
The study, “Putting Customers in the Driver’s Seat: The Case for Tolls,” was authored by transportation expert Peter Samuel.
Here are some of his arguments:
Current procedures double-tax motorists once at the conventional toll booth and a second time at the gas pump. Because electronic tolling systems keep detailed records, motorists could be given rebates of fuel taxes paid for all miles driven on toll roads.
Also, variable-rate tolling which charges different prices during different traffic conditions could help alleviate stop-and-go traffic congestion.
Source: Peter Samuel, “Putting Customers in the Driver’s Seat: The Case for Tolls,” Policy Study 274, Reason Public Policy Institute, 3415 S. Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 400, Los Angeles, Calif. 90034; (310) 391-2245.
For text http://www.rppi.org/ps274.html
For more on highway spending http://www.ncpa.org/pd/budget/budget-7.html
