I know this is a bit old. But I can drive finally!!! — #25

Post #25 by jeffrey3

Source Forum	68kMLA
Category	Troubleshooting
Post Date	Mon, 31 Mar 2008 - 23:19
Original URL	https://68kmla.org/bb/threads/i-know-this-is-a-bit-old-but-i-can-drive-finally.12565/

Post

There are all sorts of factors that drive up the cost of building and maintaining infrastructure and I'm not confident enough to say that the gas tax covers it. Granted, almost any motorist will say that it does because they would rather say that they are paying the costs while saying that transit users aren't paying the costs. Which is fictitious. IIRC, transit users in this city cover about 70% of the operating costs for public transit. And this city spends a glut of money on low revenue services and routes (like wheel trans and routes in low density areas), while the bulk of people are forced to pay more than their share on revenue generating routes.
I'm sorry for the brain dump there, but I just wanted to demonstrate that the issue is more complex than a one sentence dismissal.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohim/hs05/finance.htm

According to the chart "Funding for highways and disposition of highway-user revenues, all units of Government – summary", 59% of highway revenues in the US comes directly from highway users. A further 16% comes from investment income and bonds. 26% comes from property taxes, general funds, and other taxes.

According to "Transit operator receipts and disbursements for operations", on average, 34% of operating costs come from passenger fares.