Sustainable Transportation Funding for Maine's Future

In the United States, the primary source of funding for transportation at the state level is a motor fuel excise tax. In 2004, the fuels tax in Maine was 8% of the State's total revenue and 68% of the Highway Fund revenue. Of particular concern for the State is the erosion of motor fuel excise taxes as a primary basis for funding Maine's public road infrastructure. Transportation policy makers have identified a number of threats to fuel tax revenue including: tighter fuel economy standards, a possible increase in the market share for alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles, the declining purchase power of motor fuel tax revenue, and increasing demands on the transportation infrastructure coupled with increasing costs of materials for transportation projects. This report utilizes an extensive literature review to identify twelve financing options, many of which are simultaneously aimed at generating revenue and addressing other transportation issues such as congestion. The report also presents case studies from around the nation. To assist in presentation, four categories of alternative funding options are used throughout the report: taxes, road/direct pricing, tolls and fees. Furthermore this report examines the suitability of options for Maine's specific needs. Such assessments of equity and suitability should be considered as Maine looks ahead in transportation planning.

• Record URL:
  http://www.umaine.edu/MCSC/reports/Sustainable%20Transportation%20Funding%20Jan%2006.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Maine, Orono

  Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center
  College of Business, Public Policy and Health
  Orono, ME  United States  04469-5711

  Maine Department of Transportation

  Technical Services Division, 16 State House Station
  Augusta, ME  United States  04333
• Authors:
  • Noblet, Caroline Lundquist
  • Gould, Gregory M
  • Rubin, Jonathan
  • 0000-0002-4793-8499
  • Innis, Daniel
  • Morris, Charles
• Publication Date: 2006-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Technical Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 90p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Case studies; Costs; Equity (Finance); Financing; Fuel conservation; Fuel taxes; Hybrid vehicles; Infrastructure; Literature reviews; Market share; Motor fuels; Revenues; Road pricing; Tolls; Traffic congestion; Transportation planning; Transportation policy
• Candidate Terms: Excise tax
• Geographic Terms: Maine
• Subject Areas: Energy; Finance; Highways; Policy; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01026700
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: ME 06-1
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 5 2006 11:51AM