Recent Streetsblog SF posts about Gas Tax

GM CEO: “We Ought to Just Slap a Dollar Tax on a Gallon of Gas”

By Tanya Snyder | Jun 8, 2011 | No Comments

Well, it’s unanimous – everyone agrees the country needs a significant hike in the gas tax. Everyone outside of Congress, that is. Last week, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson told The Detroit News that a higher gas tax would help solidify the market for more fuel-efficient cars. Akerson told The Detroit News that, rather than […]

Without Adequate Federal Funding, Will States Raise Their Own Gas Taxes?

By Tanya Snyder | Apr 25, 2011 | No Comments

Connecticut state senators just voted to increase the state gas tax by three cents. The New Hampshire House Speaker has proposed cutting theirs by five cents – but only for two months, to help drivers bear the pain of high gas prices. In Georgia, the gas tax jumps every time gas prices go up by […]

The Economist: Rock-Bottom U.S. Gas Tax Makes Gas Cheaper Than Water

By Tanya Snyder | Feb 24, 2011 | No Comments

Gas prices are up to $3.23 a gallon this week, according to AAA. But before drivers complain about “pain at the pump,” they should compare U.S. gas prices to those in the rest of the developed world. A liter of gas costs about 80 cents. A liter of Fiji bottled water costs about $4.00. According […]

California’s Pay as You Drive Insurance Program Could Reduce Driving

By Matthew Roth | Dec 17, 2010 | 12 Comments

The California Department of Insurance has approved a pay-as-you-drive insurance program encouraged by environmental advocates and transportation planners because it provides an incentive to drive less by reducing premiums for low-mileage drivers. Widespread adoption of similar insurance policies could reduce driving in the U.S. by as much as eight percent, according to a Brookings Institution […]

Fred Barnes: Americans Mainly Want to Stay in Their Cars

By Ben Fried | Nov 3, 2010 | No Comments

After yesterday’s electoral drubbing, the Obama administration will have to deal with a starkly different Congress when they make their expected push for a multi-year transportation bill early next year. We know that some influential House Republicans, like John Mica, don’t necessarily believe that bigger highways will solve America’s transportation problems. And we know that […]

New Report Examines the Media’s Role in the Gas Tax Debate

By Elana Schor | May 26, 2010 | No Comments

(Chart: University of Vermont Transportation Research Center) The success of state-level plans to increase gas taxes is tied to the media’s portrayal of the proposals in question, with narratives tied to "crumbling infrastructure" and "economic progress" showing more success than those emphasizing long-term transportation budget gaps, according to a new report released by the University […]

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