U.S. Report: Raise the Federal Gas Tax to Pay for Infrastructure Fixes

A report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine endorses an idea that is sure to be controversial.

1 minute read

December 9, 2018, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Highway Interchange

Tim Roberts Photography / Shutterstock

Mark Niqutee reports:

As much as $70 billion annually will be needed over the next two decades to upgrade U.S. interstate highways, far above the $25 billion now being spent, according to a report that proposes raising federal fuel taxes and allowing more tolling to help make up the difference.

Voters in California faced a ballot initiative (which eventually failed) that would have revoked its new gas tax. France has experienced weeks of unrest as protestors pushed that government to rescind a fuel tax. The report's authors recognize that their approach is "aggressive and ambitious" but necessary.

Sunday, December 9, 2018 in The Mercury News

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