There seriously can't be a downside to the fact that we're driving less can there? I mean c'mon.
Reduced consumption is a contributing factor to the decrease in the price of oil, right? That's good. Reduced consumption mean reduced greenhouse gas emissions, right? That helps in the fight against climate change. That's good too. Less consumption means less imports (in theory) and puts us that much closer to some semblance of energy independence. That's good too, right? Ok, maybe not, but that's an entirely different diary.
The fact that we, as a country, are driving less actually means that the Highway Trust Fund is at risk of going broke sometime next year. You know, that Fund that builds and repairs things like bridges so we don't have further tragedies like we had in Minneapolis last year.
Currently this Fund is funded from the tax on gasoline (18.3 cents per gallon) and diesel fuel (24.3 cents per gallon). The less gas we buy, the less we pay in federal fuel taxes.
Now, the Highway Trust Fund could be in for a $5 billion shortfall. And that news comes at a time when a quarter of this country's bridges are in dire need of repair.
In June, sixty-seven US Senators signed a letter calling on the Senate to address the problem. According to Sen. Barbara Boxer
"To maintain what we have ... just for the highway piece, we’re short $50 billion per year and on the transit side, we’re short $10 billion per year,"
As someone who drives, even occassionally across a bridge, this scares the living shit out of me. States are in no position to fund the shortfall in the Fund. Heck, they all have their own budget issues to deal with in the current economic environment. And with the current federal deficit (even before the costs of two wars) I don't believe the general fund is in any position to cough up an extra $60 billion.
I suppose we could increase the gas tax to make up the difference, but I don't see that happening in an election year. Ever. So what is the solution? I think whatever solution is reached needs to include tolling and public-private partnerships. I think the private sector can and should help fund transportation. Kathleen Marvaso with AAA points out that
Considering that we have a very serious gap in the funding and the need for such significant investment, one way or another it’s going to come down to the road users,"
"They’re going to be paying these fees whether it’s in gas taxes or road fees or registration fees for vehicles."
One way or another we're going to pay for it. Let's not pay for it with our lives.