Fuel taxes in more US states to fund roads

Four more US states are set to increase fuel taxes to support new transportation investments, According to a new report from the American Road Transport Builders Association (ARTBA). This new analysis shows little political fallout from fuel tax rises for transport development. And 91% of legislators who supported an increased fuel tax were re-elected during the next general election; while 98 % of lawmakers won their 2016 primary race. This was an examination of more than 2,500 state legislators from 16 st
May 3, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Four more US states are set to increase fuel taxes to support new transportation investments, According to a new report from the American Road Transport Builders Association (ARTBA). This new analysis shows little political fallout from fuel tax rises for transport development. And 91% of legislators who supported an increased fuel tax were re-elected during the next general election; while 98 % of lawmakers won their 2016 primary race. This was an examination of more than 2,500 state legislators from 16 states.


The analysis, from the 920 American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s Transportation Investment Advocacy Center (TIAC), comes as legislators in four states—Tennessee, Montana, California and Indiana—have voted this month to increase their state gas tax to support new transportation improvements. The respective governors of each state are expected to sign the measures. It brings to 21 the number of states that have increased fuel taxes since 2013.

For Republican state legislators who supported a fuel tax increase, 95% were re-elected, the same re-election rate as those officials who voted against the fuel tax increase. Democrats who voted for a gas tax increase were re-elected at 89%, compared to 86% who voted against the same legislation.

"The voters in these states understand that lawmakers are showing political will to increase resources for transportation investment. For the majority of these states, their gas tax had not been raised in over 15 years," said ARTBA chief economist Dr Alison Premo Black. "It is now up to Congress and the Trump administration to address the stability of the Highway Trust Fund, which provides revenue for over half of all state highway program capital outlays."

Finance & Funding

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Transportation construction a positive
    April 3, 2020
    The US transportation construction sector is a positive in challenging times.
    Read More
  • America faces another major highway funding crisis says TCC
    October 3, 2014
    The United State is facing yet another national highway funding crisis as the country’s new fiscal year begins. Despite the fact that October 1 marked the beginning of America’s new financial year, Congress has still not passed or approved the funding for a new long-term surface transportation measure. This is really worrying the 31-member-strong Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) which is arguing that a “failure to act” will “lead to another self-imposed funding crisis that would undermine vital r
    Read More
  • Certified safe: ARTBA president talks future highways and safety
    January 16, 2020
    What keeps Dave Bauer* up at night? David Arminas caught up with the head of ARTBA at his Washington D.C. office during daylight hours
    Read More
  • ARTBA: Up to 9,600 jobs at risk if Pennsylvania cuts transport works
    August 1, 2013
    Cutting highway and bridge work in the US state of Pennsylvania by 25% in any given year, and then sustaining it in future years, would cost the state US$1.25 billion in lost economic activity over a five-year period and put as many as 9,600 jobs permanently at risk, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) chief economist. Dr. Alison Premo Black’s assessment of the impact of the potential impact of state-wide transport works cuts was part of her testimony to the Pennsy
    Read More

Highlighted Content