California charges per mile driven? It begins

[bmcuscgr94]

A "study" to see if charging per mile is a better way to generate revenue.

Pilot Program Information | California Road Charge Pilot Program


Sorry this might really be a PARF thread, moderators?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Isn't it amazing how the answer is NEVER to cut spending, improve efficiency, and reduce waste?

[fanaudical]

California is not first. Oregon is considering something similar and has a trial program running.

MyOReGO | A new way to fund roads for all Oregonians

[group911@aol.co]

It's kind of always been that way with fuel tax based on per gallon and toll roads per section.
The equalizer on the per gallon method is that heavier vehicles inherently get worse MPG's and also cause more road wear that lighter more fuel efficient cars.

[mreid]

What are the chances they reduce the gas tax. None. Just keep on taxing, it's the liberal way.

[group911@aol.co]

You going to build and maintain you own highway or do you expect these things to appear out of nowhere and take care of themselves?

Originally Posted by mreid

What are the chances they reduce the gas tax. None. Just keep on taxing, it's the liberal way.

[Chocaholic]

Bob...most believe it can be accomplished more efficiently. But, rather than work on improving efficiency, the only answer continues to be increased taxes to support more blatant waste. See?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

You going to build and maintain you own highway or do you expect these things to appear out of nowhere and take care of themselves?

Seriously? The answer to every funding problem can't simply be more taxes. Ever pay attention to how hard state workers work, or lack thereof? Ever compare the incredible tenure based pension and pay schedule vs what workers in most private sectors receive? I bet privatizing the entire thing and competing the work would cut a significant amount immediately. But no politician has the balls to make necessary cuts of the fat, because people would lose their jobs.

[Targa Me]

This reminds me of the Water company and Gas company. They raise your rates, tell you its to cover maintenance, but that "maintenance" never seems to happen. Here is So CA, water main breaks are happening more and more. Our Gas company currently has a huge problem with a gas well that was suppose to be maintained but never had. Now the Fn thing is leaking.

So what will happen is they'll start charging for the miles you drive but some how the money will get lost in bureau crap thievery.

[mreid]

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

You going to build and maintain you own highway or do you expect these things to appear out of nowhere and take care of themselves?

Thanks, you just made my point for me. The gas tax pays for roads and bridges today. If a tax per mile travelled is viewed as a more efficient and fair tax, fine. However, then lighten up on the tax that already pays the way. You appear to have a very myopic view.

[group911@aol.co]

Well, of course it ca. We can outsource everything to China and see how that works out. Troubled welds on the Bay Bridge -- The Sacramento Bee

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Bob...most believe it can be accomplished more efficiently. But, rather than work on improving efficiency, the only answer continues to be increased taxes to support more blatant waste. See?

[bcgreen]

Glad I got outta there when I could.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Targa Me

This reminds me of the Water company and Gas company. They raise your rates, tell you its to cover maintenance, but that "maintenance" never seems to happen. Here is So CA, water main breaks are happening more and more. Our Gas company currently has a huge problem with a gas well that was suppose to be maintained but never had. Now the Fn thing is leaking.

So what will happen is they'll start charging for the miles you drive but some how the money will get lost in bureau crap thievery.

Because the gas and electric in KS is largely a monopoly they have to apply to the state in order to raise their rates. Funny how every year they request an increase that outstrips inflation and the state never says no.

[BeyGon]

Originally Posted by Targa Me

This reminds me of the Water company and Gas company. They raise your rates, tell you its to cover maintenance, but that "maintenance" never seems to happen. Here is So CA, water main breaks are happening more and more. Our Gas company currently has a huge problem with a gas well that was suppose to be maintained but never had. Now the Fn thing is leaking.

So what will happen is they'll start charging for the miles you drive but some how the money will get lost in bureau crap thievery.

and the less water we use because they tell us we have to cut back, the more our rates go up. at the same time gov flush it down brown signed a deal to sell 300 million gallons of water a day that will be shipped out of state.

[group911@aol.co]

We just went through this in CO. Voters said no new taxes but we still needed new and expanded roads so we sold the roads to an Australian consortium that turned to tolls that have no end in site. Why the controversial US 36 contract could be the wave of the future | CPR

Originally Posted by mreid

Thanks, you just made my point for me. The gas tax pays for roads and bridges today. If a tax per mile travelled is viewed as a more efficient and fair tax, fine. However, then lighten up on the tax that already pays the way. You appear to have a very myopic view.

[mreid]

Ugh, that's an even worse answer! I wonder how many cents of each tax dollar on gasoline actually make it to fixing something?

[group911@aol.co]

We get the same from our gas and electric company that is private. It's called maximizing profits.

Originally Posted by Targa Me

This reminds me of the Water company and Gas company. They raise your rates, tell you its to cover maintenance, but that "maintenance" never seems to happen. Here is So CA, water main breaks are happening more and more. Our Gas company currently has a huge problem with a gas well that was suppose to be maintained but never had. Now the Fn thing is leaking.

So what will happen is they'll start charging for the miles you drive but some how the money will get lost in bureau crap thievery.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

You going to build and maintain you own highway or do you expect these things to appear out of nowhere and take care of themselves?

Ostensibly, the gasoline tax is to be used for this, but it gets rolled into the sausage factory that is the general fund. California already has one of the highest gas taxes in the country. They have seen revenue drop as the fuel efficient cars they have encouraged and subsidized have become more prevalent. They want a double tax on transportation.

The Bay Bridge debacle was more about corruption than it was about taxes. The general contractor did not insure that the subcontractor was using adequate construction techniques, they cut corners. Turns out you can't build a bridge over water that will fall apart if it gets wet. Candy canes are not the best thing to use to bolt a bridge together.

[group911@aol.co]

As it turns out, the federal gas tax hasn't changed since 1993: A Brief History of the Federal Gasoline Tax-Kiplinger which I'm pretty sure has only exacerbated the problems we are in today. No doubt there is a lot of waste but stalling your source of revenue for 23 years can't turn out well.

Originally Posted by mreid

Ugh, that's an even worse answer! I wonder how many cents of each tax dollar on gasoline actually make it to fixing something?

[group911@aol.co]

An even worse answer that is just getting started. If you read this article, now the private companies are trying to get taxpayers to foot the bill when their overly optimistic projections don't pan out. Gonna get ugly. Private Toll Road Investors Shift Revenue Risk to States - Bloomberg Business

Originally Posted by mreid

Ugh, that's an even worse answer! I wonder how many cents of each tax dollar on gasoline actually make it to fixing something?