Washington State embarks on the next phase of research: Forward Drive
In 2020 the Washington State Transportation Commission recommended enactment of a small-scale road usage charge (RUC) program as a first step in a gradual transition away from taxing motor fuel to fund the upkeep of state roads and bridges. The State Legislature directed the Commission to further explore some specific aspects of RUC. To this end, over the next two years, the Commission’s research will address: :
- Scenario planning and financial modeling for RUC and new mobility trends
- Assessing equity impacts and identifying mitigation strategies
- Enhancing mileage reporting methods
- Reducing administrative cost
- Testing, analysis, and reporting on implementation alternatives
Learn more about the Forward Drive research phase. This work will build on the Commission’s extensive research and pilot testing of road usage charging, which culminated in the January 2020 Road Usage Charge Final Report.
READ THE 2020 FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON ROAD USAGE CHARGING
On January 13, 2020, the Washington State Transportation Commission transmitted their final report on how Washington can begin a transition away from the state gas tax and toward a road usage charge system to the Governor, State Legislature and the Federal Highway Administration. Learn more and read the report.