The Trump Administration released their promised infrastructure plan on Monday. It included many of the same provisions set forth in the leaked proposal last month including repealing the ban on interstate tolling and relying heavily on public/private partnerships.
In the document, the White House lays out four main goals for the plan:
- Generate $1.5 trillion in infrastructure spending – $200 billion of which will come from the federal government, and the rest from state, local, and private sources
- Streamline the permitting process for new construction projects down to two years
- Boost spending for rural infrastructure projects
- Provide advanced workforce training
While the 55-page proposal comes directly from the White House, it does not actually make any changes to existing rules or regulations. Instead, according to DOT Secretary Elaine Chao, the document is meant to lay out guiding principles for House and Senate Republicans to use in drafting up new legislation. This means that in order to make his infrastructure plan a reality, President Trump will need to win the votes for it.
But there is disagreement about where the money should come from. The infrastructure plan approves what critics are already calling “Trump Tolls” by reversing the ban on tolling existing interstates.
Tolling opponents say that new tolls are costly, both to set up and to maintain. To get them up and running, states may need to turn to large private companies for help. In a statement, the ATA said that the infrastructure plan falls short because it “relies on fake funding schemes like highway tolls and privatizing rest areas.”
Tolling isn’t the only way to raise money however. The ATA and some members of Congress have voiced support for an increase in the fuel tax which supporters claim is a much more efficient way of raising money than adding new tolls.
Statements on a potential fuel tax increase from President Trump, Republican leadership, and Trump Administration officials have been at odds for some time now, and this week has only added to the confusion. According to DOT Secretary Chao, the official stance of the administration now appears to be “everything is on the table,” but that an increase in the gas tax is “not ideal.”
Source: gobytrucknews, truckinginfo, truckinginfo, fleetowner, overdrive, ttnews, ttnews, ttnews, usatoday, chron, truckersreport, whitehouse
Wanda says
That will not be good big Trucks will be on little roads because companies will not pay the tolls and food Prices will still go up because they Have to use some tolls in transporting
Douglas Kirk says
Tolls are just another layer of taxes, and the money gets spent on everything but maintaining the road. If they want us to pay tolls they should get rid of fuel and mileage taxes….
Bill says
Why would they want to do that, they would not have enough to line their pockets, and give themselves raises, they so rightly deserve…NOT!!!
Misunderstood says
Hey, let’s toll the people that actually work 70+ hours a week and are one of the main arteries of the economy.
Why not raise gasoline taxes, higher luxury taxes on RV’s and travel trailers. Toll these only. Let them pay their share to fix and maintain the roads.
The transportation industry already pays per mile we drive and a very high fuel tax. Why should we pay more to delivery their products?
Brian White says
First, to some folks, RV’s aren’t a “luxury”. More and more ppl are living in them full-time. Me for example, in an effort to escape some of the taxes on every damn thing in life.
Second, RV’s are already tolled. Tolls are generally calculated by the number of axles on the ground.
Third, learn the various terms & definitions that describe different types of RVs.
RV – General term for ANY recreational vehicle.
Travel trailer – A type of RV attached at the rear bumper of a tow vehicle. Sometimes referred to as a “bumper pull”.
Fifth wheel – A type of RV attached to a fifth wheel plate hitch most often located in the bed of a pickup being used as a tow vehicle.
Lisa says
I guess you’ve never bought a truck! I paid over 10k in Federal Excise Tax….. also known as luxury tax.
David Berkovits says
I agree with you. Better yet, lets DEMAND our elected officials take a 20% pay cut and put the savings towards fixing our roads and lets tax the heck out of electric vehicles . I am very serious about this. The ONLY elected officials that should NOT receive a 20% pay cut are the County Sheriffs
Kevin says
Companies will not care about this. They get to take tools off of the taxes so infected cost them nothing. The owner operators will be hurt by this because it comes off their bottom line immediately and they can’t wait for the end of the year. That’s the same owner operators who voted for this idiot. Great job guys…
Gary says
This is what we get when you vote in a person who promises to do this, that and the other, but when asked how are you going to do it, he won’t answer.
Thomas Torres says
I think we should all consider something. I’m not for Tolls at all, neither higher Tolls or fuel tax. But I have to admit the roads we drive on are disastrous. They beat our equipment to death. If we can actually get the roads rebuilt and Mandate a Sunset in them, which I grant you will never happen, then I might be open to giving a little more. However, it would have to require that 100% of every penny collected in Tolls and Fuel Taxes must be spent to rebuild our infrastructure. It can NEVER go for gross revenue or into the General Funds of states.
Nicolas D. says
Am I supposed to feel bad for those guys ? If so let me know lol.
Neil Pawelczak says
It is a easy thing to just blame Trump. Now here is the reality. These issues are decades in the making. It doesn’t take just a year or two to get to the point that we are at now. Blaming a president that is trying to come up with some sort of a solution to an issue caused over the last 20 to 40 years or more isn’t even close to a reality.
Something must be done thats the bottom line. The money collected right now is not going mostly back into the roads. That’s the much bigger issue. Somehow we will be paying more to support the higher price of everything and the wear and tear of our current transportation infrastructure. These suggestions at least affect all drivers not just truckers. There are many states now proposing truck only fees, tolls, and taxes. That isn’t right. Everyone uses these roads and highways. Everyone needs to be the ones pitching in.
Brad says
Think stuff is expensive now? Wait until we have to pay tolls to run cross country. Look at the Northeast cost $300 getting in and out of NYC. YOUR $2 gallon of milk will be 6 or 7. We must pass the cost on to the final consumers or go bankrupt.
Nicolas D. says
Yeah that’s the hilarious part. The general public is like “HURR DURR TAX TRUCKS THEY DESTROY OUR ROADZ”
… What ? You think transportation companies will just “suck it up” or go under or something ? Rates will keep going up to offset the cost. Which means every last one of us buying stuff… every stuff… any stuff will pay the price. That includes a lot of people who never came close to driving a truck. But they’ll applaud the “political courage” of whoever put tolls in place and vote for him again while I eat popcorn and laugh my ass off. Lack of education my boys…
Gary says
Oh right, right, I can go along with tolls, no problem. All of us can see how Pennsylvania spends all of its toll money on the roads.
Jon B says
If I’m understanding the new tax code correctly, company drivers and possibly some lease and o/o drivers will not be able to itemize expenses (specifically meal allowance) going forward and now the idea is to take more from the o/I’d and some company drivers that are not reimbursed for all their tolls? If you’re still thinking ANYONE in the government has your best interest in mind you are part of the problem.
mousekiller says
This is going to be like Ill when they built 294. Don’t run the toll road and use Hy 41 you will get harassed, Ill regaining the lost revenue in tolls in tickets hoping you will get tired of the road side inspections and run the toll rd.
More importantly is, for the most part we built the interstates with the a maze of taxes we pay beginning with the HUT.We pay taxes no other vehicle owners pay.
However, some of the loudest complainers blaming others for this toll road fiasco share the blame.. It is evident you do nothing to fix it but just complain, same old crap no matter what page it is on.. Call your legislators and complain to them.Tell them why it is a bad idea and how to fix it.( if you actually know your self) Don’t blame Trump . Blame your self for not doing anything for the last few years.
Joe says
Don’t blame Trump? His administration is proposing these toll roads and “private/public partnerships”. If his administration is proposing these ideas then by common sense, I will blame Trump.
Neil Pawelczak says
You can blame trump all you want. That is your right. One thought though. What do you propose they should do. Everyone seems to like to blame someone else but have no idea how to get things better. Its not just the federal government here. The States do just as much or more. The fact is there needs to be funds. But they need to keep these taxes, ect only for improving the roads. If you take money from travel keep it in the exact same place.
James says
No more tolls increase the fuel tax by 2 cent per gallon use all the money for road and bridge repair/improve. Washington and the state’s need to stop wasting are money.
Valri says
Before any new spending happens every penny currently collected for roads needs to be spent on roads. Right now over one third is spent elsewhere. That needs to stop.
David Berkovits says
Agreed!!!!!
Jeffrey Eakman says
A proposed $.25 cent gas tax hike. Toll road revenue has 40% actually being used on road maintenance and repair. Not taking the advice of those that live the life but from an “I heard” reference.
Stop messing with this industry. Those who drive should be heard also. I have no problem with new jobs, improved and safer roadways. Just un f%ck your proposed decision making.
NJO 3541 out.
Andrew H says
Ask anyone in Michigan how the fuel tax increase is helping roads.
Rufus says
We would not be in this situation if the state’s and the Fed gov would have kept to the “Mandate” that 12% of budgets goes toward highway maint. Pres Eisenhower made that law when he created the interstate.
Joe says
Higher tolls and higher fuel taxes means higher rates to the trucking Sorry consumers your new grocery bill will be a 1,000.00 per week.
Matt says
More work on roads. Oh yea that’s just what we need. Just about every mile of every highway in the country is under construction as it is right now. So great what are we gonna do tear up the few remaining stretches of highway that are not under construction. How bout we finish the roads under construction first before starting another boondoggle. Besides these construction projects are just big money handouts for big construction companies. They like to tear the highway up and leave it like that for years before they fix it. In the meantime they bid on and get their next project and move on to tear that road up. And by the time they finish the road it’s time to tear it up again. $$$$ our of our pockets and into theirs. What do we get. A bunch of out dated crappy roads.
Reuben says
I hate toll roads, go out of my way to avoid them if the lost time doesnt cost too much more than the lost money. Too much is coming out of my pay already and im not getting anywhere. For 7 weeks driving a big rig i paid 2 tax bills, suffered several losses along the way to both legal and illegal robbers. And a little damaged cargo goof that i cant figure out how i could have avoided.(insurence has a $1000 deductable) Ate extremely economically, And have $400 left. Its a good thing my home expense is nil or id be in the hole. Fuel tax should be enough. And not another quarter a gallon either. Lots of wasted spending still going on up there. Our country is being squeezed to the limit finantually. It will break one of these days.
Rickey Gooch says
Trumps plan to give to the rich and take from hard working Americans is at work. He has fooled us all!