SEATTLE — A new analysis for the Washington State Transportation Commission shows a pay-by-mile road usage charge would be more fair than the current gas taxes that pay for roads.
The consultant's analysis presented Tuesday compared a 2016 Toyota Prius C, a 2010 Ford Focus, a 2010 Ford Fusion and a 2007 Ford F-150, all driving 10,000 miles per year.
The Prius driver would pay $100 in annual gas taxes, the pickup owner more than $300.
"If you drive a highly fuel efficient car or a car that's not very fuel efficient it won't matter under a road usage charging program, everybody would essentially pay the same rate for the use of the road," said Reema Griffith, the commission's executive director.
Under a 2.5 cent per mile road usage charge, all four drivers of the vehicles would each pay $250.
On Tuesday, the commission recommended the Legislature put $600,000 toward a test of a road usage charge in 2017.
Oregon is the first state testing pay-by-mile.
Private companies use GPS to track the miles volunteers drive on Oregon roads.
Drivers pay 1.5 cents per mile and get a refund of their gas taxes.
"If I'm driving my pickup around I'm going to pay less than I would at the gas pump," said Tom Fuller of the Oregon Department of Transportation, who was participating in the test. "If I'm driving my Prius around I'm going to pay a little bit more."
Since electric vehicle owners don't pay gas taxes, they now pay a flat $100 annual fee in Washington.
Next year, the fee rises to $150 and will begin applying to plug-in hybrids.
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