Tolls: Paving the way to new transportation funding

The biggest challenge facing any reauthorization of federal surface transportation legislation is the lack of an adequate funding source.

Raising the gas tax has been a non-starter. Tolling is a proven source of alternative funding, unlike some other proposed mechanisms. It's currently in use in a variety of locations across the country, and is seriously being considered for expansion by cities, states and regions, with support from elected officials across the political spectrum. Tolling has appeal because it isn’t universal – it's a user fee, meaning those who use the road pay for it directly.

HNTB's own qualitative research with many of its transportation clients has found a strong appetite for new insights on the power of tolling. Many states without legislation to support tolling have a keen interest in advancing such initiatives.

Key questions to address include:

• Are Americans ready for more toll roads?
• Are people ready to accept tolls on existing interstates and highways?
• When is tolling acceptable?
• Which arguments for tolling are most powerful?
• Open-road/all electronic tolling versus traditional cash tolling?

HNTB is the nation's No. 1 consultant to toll authorities, serving as the general engineering consultant to more toll agencies than any other firm.