Wyoming Road Usage Charge

WYDOT says it currently faces a $135 million annual budget shortfall and that the poor condition of Wyoming’s roads is having a compounding negative effect on its economy. According to Reiner’s presentation to the committee, 34% of Wyoming’s road are in “poor” or “mediocre” condition.

Those conditions cost the average driver an extra $587 a year in fuel and maintenance and reduces the maximum load weight on commercial trucks, meaning more trucks are needed to carry goods, Reiner said.

“We can’t cut our way out of this,” Reiner added, “Because the infrastructure has to be maintained.” Meanwhile, “capacity and mobility” projects — like increasing the number of lanes on certain highways — are being indefinitely delayed. Reiner said the cost of all projects will only increase with time.

Wyoming’s $0.24/gallon fuel tax is providing “exponentially diminishing returns,” according to Kelli Little, deputy director of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association. A bill to raise the fuel tax by three cents failed introduction to the Wyoming House of Representatives this February.

Little cited a University of Wyoming figure stating that 67-70% of paved county roads were in “poor” condition. Working group member and WYDOT District 7 Deputy Commissioner Phil Schmidt said that, despite Wyoming’s natural beauty, tourists were getting a “sketchy experience” on subpar roads.

He added that WYDOT’s current deficit represented 20% of its budget. To make up this shortfall, WYDOT’s revenues have to increase by 115%.

Meanwhile, Reiner said fuel tax revenues will keep going down as fuel economy increases in vehicles. He cited a study that said that by 2030, half of all vehicles sold would be electric. Reiner expressed some skepticism about that exact prospect, but said: “It’s certainly out there in the literature and in the advancing of the battery technology.”

A RUC is the “best long-term potential” source of income, Reiner said. Ultimately, the average car driver would pay about $20.27 a month to maintain roads, Reiner said, whereas now they pay about $10 a month in fuel tax.

The bill draft presents rates of 2.15 cents per mile for passenger cars and 2.87 cents per mile for pick-up trucks. Commercial trucks would pay 10.32 cents per mile. These rates reflect what WYDOT estimates would make up the shortfall.

 

@buddyd157

I completely agree with you. Enough is enough. The incompetence of those that are supposed to be in charge always seems to fall back on the rest of us.