[vtsnowedin]

A good time to repeal the federal gas tax altogether. Let the states raise theirs to what ever level they need and get congress out of the pork bis as far as highway projects go. You could get at least a thirty percent improvement in productivity without federal mandates and ear marks. Declareing them defense highways to build the interstate system in the fiftys was a thin ploy anyway and its about time the supreme court threw it out at last

[burtonridr]

I vote for packed gravel roads, much cheaper

We are so freakin spoiled and waste so much money our paved roads here! Why does every single road have to be paved? I can understand freeways because of the rate of speed but neighborhood roads???? Plenty of other countries do just fine without pavement. Besides its boring... to flat and uneventful

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', 'A') good time to repeal the federal gas tax altogether. Let the states raise theirs to what ever level they need and get congress out of the pork bis as far as highway projects go. You could get at least a thirty percent improvement in productivity without federal mandates and ear marks. Declareing them defense highways to build the interstate system in the fiftys was a thin ploy anyway and its about time the supreme court threw it out at last

[RSFB]

In 2007, the fund was projected to run out by 2009: link

[green_achers]

Great news. Gives me just a little bit of hope that the whole system might, if not collapse, at least contract a lot before too much more damage is done.

Doesn't have anything to do with the fact that the buggers want to build another highway right across the middle of my family's land (we already have two highways, two county roads, and two gas pipelines.)

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RSFB', 'I')n 2007, the fund was projected to run out by 2009: link

[ReverseEngineer]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', 'T')oll interstates, anyone?

[RSFB]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ReverseEngineer', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', 'T')oll interstates, anyone?

[heroineworshipper]

It would be a lot easier if your government stopped dumping all its taxes on worthless mortgages.

Government buys oceanfront property in Arizona

[emersonbiggins]

If tolling were instituted, it would provide an opportunity to correctly assess the amount of damage a typical commercial tractor-trailer does to the roadways, and price that use and damage accordingly. This might go a long ways towards ameliorating the deficiencies in the current trust-fund mechanism.

Of course, it also means our grocery bill would be higher, perhaps a lot higher. But what does that really mean in this day and age of 50% food inflation?

[Byron100]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', 'I')f tolling were instituted, it would provide an opportunity to correctly assess the amount of damage a typical commercial tractor-trailer does to the roadways, and price that use and damage accordingly. This might go a long ways towards ameliorating the deficiencies in the current trust-fund mechanism.

Of course, it also means our grocery bill would be higher, perhaps a lot higher. But what does that really mean in this day and age of 50% food inflation?

[jbrovont]

You guys also drive less and have great public transit, which our representatives have ignored our need for. Maybe this will be a wake up call that we need to get on the path to a model like yours. Discourage driving while providing closer, cheaper options.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RSFB', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ReverseEngineer', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', 'T')oll interstates, anyone?

[vtsnowedin]

The trucking industry has a very strong lobby. There is no logic in laws that allow 90,000 trucks to be registered and run on highways no matter how high the registration fees, tolls or fuel taxes. Our boughtenpaidfor politicans have been subsidising the industry with low fees for decades and we get to make up the difference with our auto taxes and fees.
The one that burns me the most is upping the allowable load by just sticking another axle under a dump truck. 14 wheels vs. 10. spreads the load over more pavement but the bridge still has to take the whole load inside the same bumper to bumper distance. I've seen trucks in the mid west that look like a centipede.

[Kristen]

Well in the short term the Federal Gov is just going to tell the states "You're on your own champ." As peak oil occurs I imagine the more important state government will be. Also states that are next to one another will work together more and will create regional funds. it will be interesting.

[ReverseEngineer]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Byron100', 'O')h, gosh yes! Even in this "declining" economy, the big rigs still rule the road, and woe to anyone that gets in their way.

Freight needs to be moved by rail / ship / barge...and truck traffic needs to be curtailed as much as possible...the roads belong to cars, not trucks, IMO. That's why I loved traveling on Florida's Turnpike back in the days I used to scoot up and down that peninsula...very, very few trucks due to the high tolls they were charged.

I'd fully support a tolling of our Interstates if it accomplished two things: Getting rid of the majority of long-distance truck traffic, and provide drastically increased funding for rail and other mass transit options.

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ReverseEngineer', ' ')You take the big rigs off the roads, there REALLY is no purpose in having such costly high maintenance roads all over the place. Just so you can tool over to the coast at 90MPH in your BMW?

[mattduke]

The government transportation system kills 40,000 per year.

[ReverseEngineer]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', '
')You can bet that the interstate system wasn't sold to the American public but for the chance at coasting 90 MPH between oceans. The trucking industry was practically nascent at the time, and certainly didn't resemble anything like we have today.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ReverseEngineer', '[')

The whole purpose of the interstate system is to move around the goods efficiently in a "just in time" fashion. You take the big rigs off the roads, there REALLY is no purpose in having such costly high maintenance roads all over the place. Just so you can tool over to the coast at 90MPH in your BMW?

[Javaman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ReverseEngineer', '
')
A subsidized road system made the railroads non-competitive, they after all have to maintain their own track. So in the wake of the interstate came the trucking industry, which only exists because it was subsidized in the building of its "track" by the individual Amerikan who also wants this road to drive at 90 MPH to swim at a FL Beach. Meanwhile, said Amerikan became addicted to all the products delivered "Just in Time" over the interstate system by the trucks, but of course finds it annoying to have to share the road with the big rigs carrying their toilet paper.

What is the difference between putting a toll Booth on the road and charging a tax on the fuel used to drive on same roads? The only difference I can see is you need toll booths. So go ahead, tax the heck out of the trucking companies for using the roads, you however will have to pay for that in terms of much higher prices on your Toilet Paper. You soon won't be able to afford the Toilet Paper or afford the tolls on the road along the way to get it.