Evaluating Support for Mileage Based User Fees in Diverse Communities and the Value of Providing Contextual Information
Mileage based user fees (MBUFs) have been promoted as a more efficient alternative to gasoline excise taxes for over a decade. MBUFs are also seen as increasingly necessary to maintain highway funding programs as electric vehicle adoption increases and to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by enabling congestion charging. Despite the many benefits of MBUFs, public support is deeply lacking. Some research suggests that raising the gas tax has more support than implementing a MBUF. Concerns over privacy, user costs, equity and disincentivizing the use of more efficient and electric vehicles are often cited. Several recent studies suggest that education about the purpose and implementation of MBUF programs can significantly increase support. This study aims to first evaluate support for various MBUF programs in a diverse range of community types, including small and rural communities that have not been the focus of prior research. The research team thinks the greater automobile dependence and differences in attitudes and beliefs in smaller and rural communities impact MBUF support. Then, the team will evaluate how providing individualized and place-based contextual information about the impacts of a MBUF programs modifies support. The researchers aim to identify opportunities to increase support in different community contexts through more effective public awareness campaigns.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Completed
- Funding: $170000
-
Contract Numbers:
DOT 69A3551747114
-
Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590National Center for Sustainable Transportation
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA United States -
Managing Organizations:
National Center for Sustainable Transportation
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA United States Transportation Research Center
Burlington, Vermont United States 05405 -
Project Managers:
Iacobucci, Lauren
-
Performing Organizations:
National Center for Sustainable Transportation
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA United States Transportation Research Center
Burlington, Vermont United States 05405 -
Principal Investigators:
Rowangould, Gregory
Nelson, Clare
- Start Date: 20220901
- Expected Completion Date: 20230831
- Actual Completion Date: 20240319
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Attitudes; Mileage-based user fees; Public information programs; Rural areas
- Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01854527
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: National Center for Sustainable Transportation
- Contract Numbers: DOT 69A3551747114
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Aug 11 2022 2:41PM