The holidays are finally here, which means lots of travel. And with the new year, it will also mean we can look forward to much-needed funding for our nation’s beleaguered infrastructure.
According to AAA, the number of year-end holiday travelers will top 100 million for the first time on record. Nearly one in three Americans will travel this holiday season, and more than 90 percent of travelers will be driving to their destinations. AAA President and CEO Marshall Doney said that, “rising incomes and low gas prices are helping to fill stockings this year, and more people than ever will choose to spend those savings on travel.”
Aside from holiday travel, many states are beginning to discuss ways to generate more state-level funds for infrastructure projects. Alabama, Missouri, New Mexico and Indiana are contemplating a potential gas tax increase for the new year. California is considering a new way to raise money for road repairs by keeping track of vehicle mileage with stickers or electronics. In response to declining revenues and increased road congestion, the District of Columbia is discussing a user-pay system through tolls as a replacement for fuel taxes.
While states continue to strive towards solutions to compensate for the funding gap in the FAST Act, we are thankful that Congress passed a five-year bill that will finally jump-start infrastructure projects in the new year.