Today’s Headlines

  • Michigan to Spend $268 Million in General Funds on Roads Only (Detroit News)
  • Columbus the “Lone Exception” in Midwest Population Growth (CURA OSU)
  • Northeast Corridor Senators Push for Full Amtrak Funding (WJLA)
  • Olympia Mother: Children Aren’t Welcome in My Neighborhood Streets (WaPo)
  • Oregon May Test Mileage Tax to Replace Gas Tax (Associated Press)
  • “Ridesharing” Could Save St. Louis Area Commuters $277 Million (St. Louis Business Journal)
  • Police Chief on Why He Has “Zero Tolerance” for Dangerous Driving (The Hinesburg Record)
  • Why Is Coral Gables Leaving Bike Lanes Out of Its Downtown Redesign? (Miami Herald)

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

The Gas Tax: A Trip Back in Legislative Time …

By Elana Schor |
As Tax Day prompts a rush of political rallies and media coverage, it’s worth looking back at the history of the federal levy that helps pay for transportation projects: the gas tax. The late Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) in 1982, when he battled his own party’s attempts to raise the gas tax. (Photo: TIME) Most […]

The Gas Tax Versus a VMT Tax: Is ‘All of the Above’ an Option?

By Elana Schor |
(Chart: Oregon DOT) The prospect of an eventual move away from the gas tax and towards a fee on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) has sparked consternation from some well-known bloggers this week, with Matt Yglesias asserting that "a VMT [tax] has no advantages whatsoever over higher gasoline taxes" and Andrew Samwick suggesting that declining fuel […]

Quebec Approves Carbon Tax on Fuels to Cut Greenhouse Gases

By Jason Varone |
Quebec will become the first Canadian province to impose a carbon tax on energy producers. Bloomberg reports: The provincial cabinet approved the tax in Quebec City yesterday, according to a statement on the Natural Resources Ministry Web site. Refiners including Valero Energy Corp.’s Ultramar unit and Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s Canadian unit will start paying […]

New Report Examines the Media’s Role in the Gas Tax Debate

By Elana Schor |
(Chart: University of Vermont Transportation Research Center) The success of state-level plans to increase gas taxes is tied to the media’s portrayal of the proposals in question, with narratives tied to "crumbling infrastructure" and "economic progress" showing more success than those emphasizing long-term transportation budget gaps, according to a new report released by the University […]