Traditionally, a significant portion of funding for highways and bridges has been obtained through user fees. Users fees such as tolls and fuel taxes were considered an equitable means of raising revenue, since only those who benefit from highway services pay for them. But while these taxes continue to be the largest source of revenue for transportation, they no longer cover transportation costs. It is becoming more common for towns and counties to levy their own transportation fees through voter-approved ballot measures. The consequences of this shift have been largely ignored. Its potential dangers include decreased efficiency in usage. Increased fuel prices make drivers more aware of the amount they travel. In addition, as small units of government are given greater decision-making power, the authority of federal and state government is undermined. The policy making authority of elected officials is comprised when local ballot measures require that transportation funds be spent exactly as the language on the ballot demands. Finally, such ballot measures cause systematic analyses of the effectiveness of certain measures to give way to popular, and not necessarily educated, opinion.
Samenvatting