1.) The fuel efficiency of vehicles is rising fast
A new car in 2025 will go around twice as far as the 2010 models on the same amount of gas.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards – Projected and Historical.
2.) Fuel taxes are the single largest component of state transportation funding
Forecast of transportation revenues for 10-year period (2013-2023) in millions of 2014 dollars.
Source: OFM, June 2014 Transportation and Economic Revenue Forecasts, Volume I: Summary, p. 5.
3.) Stagnant gas tax revenues can’t keep pace with growing road use
Source: Gas Tax Revenue – OFM, June 2014 Transportation and Economic Revenue Forecasts, Volume II: Detailed Forecast Tables, Table A. 3.
Vehicle Miles Traveled – WSDOT, VMT Statewide Forecast Model, April 2010.
4.) Failing grades. Enormous funding needs.
The reviews are in on Washington’s transportation infrastructure — and there are more jeers than cheers. The American Society of Civil Engineer’s gave Washington poor marks in its most recent (2013) Infrastructure Report Card: D+ grades for transit and for roads; C- grades for bridges and for rail.
The state’s transportation infrastructure is aging. According to the Washington Transportation Commission, over $175 billion in transportation system investments are needed statewide in the next 20 years.
Funding Need – Washington Transportation Commission, Transportation 101: Moving People and Goods, Spring 2014.
Available Revenue – OFM, June 2014 Transportation and Economic Revenue Forecasts, Volume I: Summary, p. 5.