The Reason Foundation, a libertarian nonprofit organization that researches public policy, revealed the proposal Thursday with its study, “Interstate 2.0: Modernizing the Interstate Highway System Via Toll Finance,” which notes that the U.S. interstate system makes up 2.5 percent of the nation’s lane-miles of highway but handles 25 percent of total vehicle miles traveled.
According to a report from The Hill, tolling the entire interstate system could raise nearly $1 trillion for highway rebuilding. The report also points out that federal law currently does not allow tolling on existing highway lanes that are already free.
The Reason Foundation, however, says it is time to change interstate tolling. Among its reasons for switching from per-gallon taxes to highway user fees are:
Customization: Per-mile tolls can be created based on the cost of each road or bridge, rather than using an average cost of all road types, ensuring each highway project receives the funding it needs.
Fairness: Per-mile tolling charges more to those who drive the most on Interstates, taxing drivers who use those roads the most.
Self-Limiting: The funds collected would be only be used for the purpose it was implemented to serve. The Reason Foundation notes this would be “enforceable via bond covenants with those who buy toll revenue bonds.”
