Environmentalists back road pricing plan

The US Environmental Defense Fund has welcomed yesterday’s report from the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission, which proposed a national system of road pricing to pay for the country’s transport infrastructure (see: US Commission calls for mileage-based road tax).

The report, “Paying Our Way: A New Network for Transportation Finance,” recommended a temporary federal gas tax hike that transitions to a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) fee.

“If we are serious about fixing our country's transportation crisis, this report is a good place to start the debate,” says Michael Replogle, who is transportation director for the Environmental Defense Fund and an adviser to the US Department of Transportation on intelligent transportation systems. “We applaud the Commission for introducing ideas, such as the VMT fee, that can both raise revenue and reward infrastructure and personal decisions that result in less environmental impact. New, innovative funding mechanisms like the ones proposed in this report – coupled with a cap on global warming pollution – could help finance a shift to a cleaner infrastructure.”

Replogle adds that a great deal depends on how the revenue is spent. “The report's recommendations need to be paired with a new federal cap on global warming pollution and strong requirements that transportation plans and programs cut greenhouse gas emissions by cutting traffic growth and congestion.”

“Otherwise, there is a danger that revenue increases will worsen our problems by wasting money on building new roads to crumbling bridges, fuelling more sprawl, traffic growth and pollution,” says Replogle. “A portion of revenues from a carbon cap could be used to supplement transportation funding, expanding travel choices for Americans who are stuck in traffic without any alternatives to driving.”
 

27 February 2009