Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives Phase Ⅰ Independent Evaluation: Cross-Cutting Report

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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Operations
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
ops.fhwa.dot.gov

June 2021

FHWA-HOP-19-041

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Table of Contents

[ Notice and Quality Assurance Statement ] [ Technical Report Documentation Page ] [ SI Modern Metric Conversion Factors ] [ Abbreviations and Acronyms ]

Executive Summary
	Major Findings
		Mileage Reporting Approaches
		Program Structure and System Costs
		Interoperability
		Data Security and Privacy Protection
		Public Outreach and Communications
		Equity
CHAPTER 1. ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SOLUTIONS – AN OVERVIEW
	Why Explore Alternative Transportation Funding Solutions?
	Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives Program – Phase Ⅰ
		Program Evaluation
		Terminology
	Overview of Phase Ⅰ Programs and Pilots
		California
		Delaware/Eastern Corridor Coalition
		Minnesota
		Missouri
		Oregon
		Western Road Usage Charge Consortium
		Washington
	Organization of This Report
CHAPTER 2. MILEAGE RECORDING APPROACHES AND THEIR ATTRIBUTES
	Mileage Recording Approaches Explored by Phase Ⅰ Sites
		Key Cross-Cutting Findings Regarding Mileage Reporting Options
	Implementation Attribute: Accuracy, Precision, Reliability, and Repeatability
	Ease of User Compliance Attribute: Transparency and Ability To Audit
		Location-Based Approaches
		Alternative Approaches
	Ease of User Compliance Attribute: Flexibility and User Choice
		Mileage Recording
		Payment of Fees
Chapter 3. PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND SYSTEM COSTS
	Key Cross-Cutting Findings
	Significant Phase Ⅰ Efforts Exploring Program Structure and System Costs
		Eastern Corridor Coalition’s Administrative Cost Analysis
		Minnesota’s Approach to Partnering with Shared Mobility Providers
		Oregon’s Approach to Streamlining System Costs
		Missouri’s Alternative Approach to Road Usage Charges
		California’s Evaluation of System Cost Considerations
CHAPTER 4. INTEROPERABILITY
	Key Crosscutting Findings
		Ability to Measure Location
		Framework to Reallocate Funds
		Trade-Offs between Alternative Approaches to Achieve Interoperability
	Significant Phase Ⅰ Efforts Exploring Interoperability
		Road Usage Charge West Example
		Eastern Corridor Coalition Pilot
CHAPTER 5. DATA SECURITY AND PRIVACY PROTECTION
	Key Cross-Cutting Findings
		Data Security
		Driver Privacy
	Significant Phase Ⅰ Efforts Exploring Data Security and Privacy
		Eastern Corridor Coalition’s Approach to Participant Data Privacy
		Data Security and Privacy Enhancements in the Oregon Pilot
CHAPTER 6. PUBLIC OUTREACH, MESSAGING, AND COMMUNICATION
	Key Cross-Cutting Findings
		Recognizing the Need for Ongoing Public/Stakeholder Education and Outreach
		Developing and Executing a Targeted Communications Strategy
		Developing a Framework for Regional Communications Support
		Accounting for Political Considerations around Transportation Funding
	Significant Phase Ⅰ Efforts Exploring Outreach, Messaging, and Communication
CHAPTER 7. EQUITY AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION
	Key Cross-Cutting Findings
		Fairness by Distance Driven
		Fairness by Rural Versus Urban Location
		Fairness by Fuel Efficiency and Vehicle Type
	Significant Phase Ⅰ Efforts Exploring Equity and Public Acceptance
		Road Usage Charge West’s Study of Equity Concerns
		Oregon’s Focus Groups
		Eastern Corridor Coalition’s Pre- and Post-Pilot Surveys
CHAPTER 8. POTENTIAL FUTURE RESEARCH

List of Figures

Figure 1. Diagram. Regional road usage charge pilot architecture with clearinghouse, with different set of business partners for region.

Figure 2. Average fuel efficiency (miles per gallon) for vehicles in urban, mixed, and rural census tracts of project States (gas-taxed vehicles only).

Figure 3. Graph. Hypothetical average mileage-based user fee paid by vehicles with different fuel efficiencies.

List of Tables

Table 1. Attributes of mileage recording approaches explored in Phase Ⅰ.

Table 2. Preferred terminology for alternative transportation revenue approaches centered around a user-fee based on distance traveled.

Table 3. Mileage reporting/recording approaches and options tested or explored by Phase Ⅰ pilot sites.

Table 4. Visibility of data by trip type.

Table 5. Mileage recording methods and associated user actions, additional effort, and frequency of actions.

Table 6. Payment methods and associated user actions, additional effort, and frequency of actions.

Table 7. Mileage recording devices and their ability to measure location.

Table 8. Summary of potential security issues based on mileage reporting method.

Table 9. Privacy approaches and potential solutions for user control over information.

Table 10. Key motivators and effective messaging in favor of exploring alternative transportation funding mechanisms.

Table 11. Multi-pronged approach to outreach explored by or recommended to Phase Ⅰ sites.

Table 12. Significant outreach, messaging, and communications efforts undertaken by Phase Ⅰ sites.

Table 13. Percentage change in payment under road usage charge system compared to gas tax.