Texas Transportation Institute, A&M look at highway funding alternatives

Stan Smith · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 09:24 PM

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Regional transportation leaders say they will help in a study to find alternatives to pay for highway projects.

The Texas Transportation Institute and Texas A&M University's Bush School of Government and Public Service are leading the charge. The study will explore and develop alternatives to the fuel tax to pay for transportation infrastructure at the federal and state levels. State and federal taxes are a combined 20 cents per gallon in Texas, according to TexasGasPrices.com.

The institute has received an $80,000 grant from the College Station-based University Transportation Center for Mobility to work with the Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the group said. The RMA passed a resolution last month to facilitate and participate in the study.

State and federal transportation lawmakers and officials want another avenue to fund highway projects, RMA Vice Chairman Linda Thomas said last week. Several statewide projects, including Loop 281 and Texas 149 widening in Longview, have been delayed because of budget shortfalls within the Texas Department of Transportation.

"We can't move forward until there's some funding made available," Thomas said.

Researchers will try to determine how the fuel tax is now collected and distributed, how a mileage-based fee system would impact rural and small urban communities in Northeast Texas and what the public thinks about that approach. Mileage-based or distance-based pricing means that vehicle charges at such points as registration or purchase are based on a driver's past mileage, so motorists who drive more pay more.

A 30-member Community Advisory Committee of key business and residential advocates will be included in the study, the group said.

"Through this research, the NET-RMA will be on the forefront of the discussion," said Ginger Goodin, a research engineer with the Texas Transportation Institute. "The NET-RMA will be able to position Northeast Texas for future application of this innovative financing."

The study began in early February and will continue through the spring, with a final report scheduled to be delivered to the institute in late summer.

The NET-RMA is an independent government agency of 12 counties, including Gregg, Rusk, Upshur, Harrison and Panola. It was created in 2004 to accelerate the development of transportation projects in the region.