Spring Break
Commission recommends 40 cent gas tax
Some say toll ways better than federal tax to improve infrastructure
Theresa Schneider
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: News
Junior Melissa Janssen relies heavily on her car. Living a significant distance from campus, she needs it to commute to class everyday. Being financially independent from her parents, she also needs her car to drive to and from her job, she said, spending at least one hour a day in her car. Janssen estimated that she fills her gas tank about once every week to week and a half, which she plans for in her budget.
"The biggest factor for me is that transportation is not an option," she said. "I'm stuck in my car."
A report released Jan. 22 may affect drivers like Janssen, who rely on their cars and have limited access to public transportation. The report, released by National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, urges a 40 cent increase to the 18.3 cent national gasoline tax over the next five years to fix aging infrastructure and ease traffic congestion, according to the report. The tax would be increased five to eight cents annually, adjusting for inflation, according to the report.
The current federal gas tax of 18.3 cents has not been raised since 1993. Wisconsin is one of five states nationwide that pays more than 30 cents per gallon in gas tax.
The Commission was formed by Congress in 2005 to study the nation's future surface travel needs, but increased attention has been given to the state of the nations surface travel since the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis last August.
The suggestions in the report are receiving dissent and criticism, according to the Associated Press article. Commission Chairwoman Mary Peters offered a dissenting voice within the report, suggesting that funding for infrastructure come primarily from private investors and toll way systems.
Although Janssen said she sees a need to fund infrastructure repair, she thinks increasing the gas tax is inappropriate.
"Of all the places to generate revenue, gas tax is not one of them," she said, adding that she thinks toll ways are ineffective as well because people can find ways to avoid them.
"The biggest factor for me is that transportation is not an option," she said. "I'm stuck in my car."
A report released Jan. 22 may affect drivers like Janssen, who rely on their cars and have limited access to public transportation. The report, released by National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, urges a 40 cent increase to the 18.3 cent national gasoline tax over the next five years to fix aging infrastructure and ease traffic congestion, according to the report. The tax would be increased five to eight cents annually, adjusting for inflation, according to the report.
The current federal gas tax of 18.3 cents has not been raised since 1993. Wisconsin is one of five states nationwide that pays more than 30 cents per gallon in gas tax.
The Commission was formed by Congress in 2005 to study the nation's future surface travel needs, but increased attention has been given to the state of the nations surface travel since the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis last August.
The suggestions in the report are receiving dissent and criticism, according to the Associated Press article. Commission Chairwoman Mary Peters offered a dissenting voice within the report, suggesting that funding for infrastructure come primarily from private investors and toll way systems.
Although Janssen said she sees a need to fund infrastructure repair, she thinks increasing the gas tax is inappropriate.
"Of all the places to generate revenue, gas tax is not one of them," she said, adding that she thinks toll ways are ineffective as well because people can find ways to avoid them.
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