State worries fuel taxes may run out of gas
No doubt, hybrid and electric cars are friendlier to the environment and owners of these vehicles save more money each time gasoline prices increase.
But these green vehicles are not as good for government agencies such as the Nevada Department of Transportation. To departments charged with building and maintaining roads, they require fewer trips to the gas station, which means less fuel-tax revenue, which translates into less green, as in money, to expand or improve the road system.
The transportation division is joining several other states in studying a Vehicle Miles Traveled program that would attach a fee for each mile driven. Such a system eventually could replace fuel taxes nationwide, but that undoubtedly is many, many years down the road.
"We are looking for future funds," said Susan Martinovich, director of our state's Department of Transportation. "That's our job."
Plenty of questions still swirl around the idea, even though some states have conducted pilot programs to gauge public interest and test different types of technology that might be used to count mileage. This study is in its infancy stages so many of the questions remain unanswered.
Martinovich said the purpose of such a program is to create equality among drivers.
She pointed out that it doesn't matter if there are 100 hybrid vehicles on the road or 100 gas guzzlers. They are still causing wear and tear on the roads; they are still contributing to the congestion on our freeways. The difference is, the gas guzzlers' contribution to revenues is far greater because of the amount of gasoline purchased.
"We have to find a way to capture the cost of those (hybrid and electric) vehicles," said Scott Rawlins, deputy director of the department. "With gas tax and more efficient vehicles, we're getting less dollars everyday for transportation. Right now, we do not get enough money in transportation dollars to maintain and add capacity to address the needs out there today."
Fuel taxes have not increased since 1993. That combined with an increasing number of fuel-efficient vehicles and higher costs to build roads and bridges weakens the purchase power of gas tax revenues.
If motorists pay fees for miles traveled, fuel taxes, which amount to 52 cents per gallon, would go away. Nevada officials haven't determined what the fee would be, and it could vary depending on the vehicle class or weight. Although hybrids and electric cars would be charged, they might get a break because they are more environmentally friendly.
Fees might also vary depending on the time of day you drive and the route taken. Fees might be higher during rush hour on Interstate 15 than they would be on a rural road midmorning. That might deter motorists from taking discretionary trips or at least rethink their timing.
With that said, even with one flat fee across the board, at least the transportation department wouldn't be losing ground on funding, Rawlins said.
The department is still trying to figure out how to track miles and dispense fee revenues for motorists headed on a cross-country road trip or even a weekend trip to Southern California for that matter. They also haven't determined what device will be used to track the miles, but whatever it is it will be installed in each vehicle.
Billing is also up in the air. Motorists could report their annual mileage when they register their vehicles and pay their fee in one lump sum or the department could read mileage monthly and bill the vehicle owner.
One element of the program that will be a huge priority is public outreach, Rawlins said.
"It has to be customer friendly; easy to use and understand. The customer service focus of the study is really important."
The department is embarking on that priority now -- well, Thursday. Transportation officials will be available from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday in the cafeteria of the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, to answer questions about the study.
If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at 702-387-2904, or send an e-mail to roadwarrior@reviewjournal
.com. Please include your phone number.
Twain Avenue between Eastern and Emerson avenues will be closed through Friday to excavate a sewer line in the center of the street. Work hours are between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily. Those traveling north or south are advised to use Pecos-McLeod Drive and Eastern Avenue; Viking Road is suggested for east-west traffic. This work is part of the Flamingo Wash improvement project.
■ Blasting along U.S. Highway 93 on the Arizona side of Hoover Dam will continue on Monday and Wednesday. Motorists should expect delays up to an hour. On nonblasting days, the Arizona Department of Transportation warns that delays will be up to 30 minutes.
■ Expect disruptions at the intersection of Vegas Drive and Decatur Boulevard through Friday as the city of Las Vegas works on underground utilities. Eastbound traffic on Vegas will be detoured south at Decatur; westbound traffic on Vegas will be allowed to travel through the intersection, but not turn left onto Decatur. Work hours are between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.
■ Alta Drive, between Rainbow Boulevard and Lorenzi Street, will be closed through May 22. The city of Las Vegas is working on an $8.7 million flood control improvement project. Traffic on Rainbow and Lorenzi is not expected to be affected and motorists who typically take Alta are advised to use Charleston Boulevard instead.
■ Tractor-trailer drivers: A height restriction of 15 feet, 6 inches is in place on the Interstate 15 northbound onramp and the Las Vegas Boulevard onramp to the Las Vegas Beltway west. Trucks larger than that will be rerouted to I-15 north to Russell Road, to I-15 south to the Las Vegas Beltweay west ramp. These restrictions will be in place until Aug. 9.
■ REMEMBER: Allow a little more time to get to McCarran International Airport. Motorists traveling through the airport tunnel northbound should be prepared for a detour shortly after exiting the tunnel. The permanent road north of the tunnel must be temporarily shut down while a new bridge is built to funnel traffic into the Terminal 3 expansion. Work is expected to continue until fall.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
