#Washington is planning a #RoadUsageCharge (#RUC). The main driver for this seems to be that WA is mostly funding its road maintenance from the gas tax and that is projected to fall significantly, ostensibly due to EVs ("from $1.3 billion in 2026 to under $1 billion in 2035" - https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/10/11/washingtons-long-road-to-replacing-the-gas-tax/). I understand that the migration to EVs causes revenue loss that needs to be addressed but I'm very skeptical that an RUC can be implemented in a reasonable way.
The website for this initiative - https://waroadusagecharge.org/ - is sparse on details on how this is supposed to be implemented. They mostly want to use odometer readings: "In implementing an initial RUC program, require annual odometer readings of participating vehicles as the method of mileage reporting to determining RUC charges."
You need to submit proof of out-of-state miles traveled to get exemptions - but only once this replaces the gas tax or if you enroll to get the gas tax reimbursed.
This sounds like it will cause huge administration overhead.
The charge is per mile. Not all miles traveled cause the same cost to society though. A 2.5 ton F150 causes more damage to the road than a 1.8 ton Leaf or a 1.5 ton Soul. Not to speak of a 4.5 ton EV Hummer.
An #RUC will do nothing to alleviate congestion. The price is too low to get people to use public transport instead in places where it is possible and will still make people pay who have no other choice.
I could not find any mention of rather trying to drive road maintenance cost down, e.g. through #RoadDiet, reducing the road network, denser population, reducing #CarDependence or #PublicTransit.
A toll system w/ #CongestionPricing could be an alternative. The problem with this is that something like #GoodToGo needs expensive equipment. The cost of building this out needs to be weight against the cost of #RUC. My guess is that the long term cost of it is lower than the administrative cost of RUC with all its exemptions. It can be made much fairer by only charging in places where alternatives are available and it's a better tool to address congestion and environmental concerns. #Traffic
Going down the rabbit hole... Looks like WSP Global - a Canadian consulting company https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WSP_Global - is pushing #RUC across the US and many DOTs are buying into it. Seems like something #StrongTowns should have on their radar but I could not find them commenting on it.
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