The Hill »
The Oregon Department of Transportation is conducting the first program in the U.S. to test the efficacy of a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax. Using a system called MyOreGo, 5,000 volunteer drivers will have the option to track mileage using GPS or use odometer readings. The volunteer drivers will be charged 1.5 cents per mile driven on public roads, and will be offered a tax credit as reimbursement for the state gas tax.
The Boston Globe/Associated Press »
Oregon is embarking on a pilot program that charges drivers for miles driven, rather than the amount of fuel used. Up to 5,000 volunteer drivers will be charged 1.5 cents per mile traveled on public roads throughout the state of Oregon beginning July 1, 2015. The goal of the pilot program is to generate more revenue to pay for road and bridge projects as gasoline tax revenues continue to be inadequate due to inflation and greater fuel efficiency.
The Hill »
Oregon is moving ahead with a pilot program to implement a Vehicle-Miles-Traveled (VMT) fee to pay for infrastructure projects as an alternative to the 18.4 cents per gallon gas tax. The program will involve 5,000 drivers who will either use a GPS or odometer tracker, or else keep a travel diary. Critics of the VMT fee-based structure have raised concerns about potential privacy violations.
This article provides details about the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) pilot program to test a vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) tax and gather public comments about using the VMT tax as a gas tax alternative. ODOT is looking for 5,000 volunteer participants to be charged 1.5 cents per mile traveled. The article also provides a formula for drivers to estimate and compare what they currently pay in gas tax versus what they would pay if the VMT tax was implemented.