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

  • Concern over condition of US bridges
    July 5, 2019
    A new report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), highlighting the poor condition of many US bridges, is nothing less than a national scandal. According to ARTBA’s report, 47,052 US bridges are in poor condition, while 18,842 Interstate highway bridges have identifiable repair needs. The length of America’s structurally deficient bridges if placed end-to-end would span nearly 1,760km, ARTBA’s examination of federal government data shows. The Brooklyn (NY), Arlington M
    Read More
  • Successful exhibition and conference in Indianapolis
    February 15, 2019
    Record attendance is claimed for the World of Asphalt Show & Conference and AGG1 Academy & Expo. The event was held from Feb 12th-14th at the Indiana Convention Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana.
    Read More
  • US roads continue to deteriorate amid a fuel levy controversy
    February 11, 2015
    The number of potholes will increase and roads in many of North America’s leading cities will continue to worsen if local authorities do not significantly increase their road maintenance spending, according to a US report. City authorities in the US state of Iowa need to spend US$10 million more per year just to maintain the existing road pavement, according to a report from the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organisation (MPO), a transportation planning agency made up of central Iowa cities and c
    Read More
  • ARTBA PPP awards include key Texas project
    July 22, 2014
    A $1.2 billion highway project in North Central Texas was recognised as a prime example of innovative transportation financing at an event held by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The 26th Annual Public Private Partnership (P3) Conference in US capital Washington was organised by ARTBA with its P3 Awards being presented in two categories, for entrepreneur of the year and project of the year. The former is given to at least one individual who has made an outstanding contributi
    Read More

Highlighted Content