Thursday, July 19, 2012

Bay Area tax to drive?


"This is going too far. taxing us for driving!  We pay Federal highway gas tax, State gas tax, San Mateo County Measure A tax, all for our streets."  (Jim Wagner)   

 "San Francisco Bay area officials are mulling the idea of charging motorists a tax on every mile they drive in the nine-county region as a way to raise money for roads and public transit while reducing traffic and pollution from car emissions.   

Just saying....
Members of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments have scheduled a vote Thursday night on whether to approve a long-range study on the merits of imposing a Vehicle Miles Traveled tax.

Under a proposal still in its early stages, drivers would be required to install GPS-like odometers in their vehicles and pay from a penny to a dime for every mile driven."  Silicon Valley Mercury News/Associated Press, 7/19/12. "Officials float San Francisco Bay area mileage tax."  Read article. 

....  "Is it crazy or the way of the future? The Bay Area is considering a long-range plan to become the first place in the nation to tax drivers for every mile they travel, with an average bill of up to $1,300 per year.

....  "I don't want to say it's pie in the sky. A VMT charge is really an option for the future to be looked at and considered," said Randy Rentschler, spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the agency leading the effort. He said realistically the plan is so complex it might take a decade to implement if the public buys in.

Under the early proposal, the VMT tax could cost up to a dime per mile, or the cost may peak during rush hour and bottom out, perhaps to less than a penny per mile, when the roads are mostly empty.

.... The VMT study is part of the long-term transportation and housing effort called Plan Bay Area, which also includes strategies like raising the Bay Bridge rush-hour toll from $6 to $8 and reducing the size of parking lots. The results are expected in December before the two agencies vote in April."  Palo Alto Daily News/Mike Rosenberg, 7/17/12.  "Bay Area drivers could pay to drive each mile under tax proposal."  Read Article. 

Submitted by Jim Wagner 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

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