NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas is exploring how a pay-per-mile road usage charge could potentially replace the current gas tax as a new way to fund roads and bridges.
"We're trying to proactively explore whether an alternative revenue stream could be a sustainable long-term funding source for our state with transportation investments on our roads and highways," said Joel Skelley, Director of Policy with the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Joining the pilot at https://www.midwestruc.org/ is free and some participants could get $100 if they meet certain data goals.
"We need people to sign up to participate in the pilot, "Skelley said. "They can provide us with the opportunity to work with them, to explote their perceptions of a Road Usage Charge, what they see as a benefit or a con to that type of mechanism to report mileage and invest in the highways in that way."
There are several ways that you can get the data that is needed.
"It varies anywhere from manual entry, which would be, you would basically take at the beginning of the pilot study and enter in your odometer reading. You'd go to a website and just type it in, I'm registered to participate in the pilot, here's the odometer reading that we're starting at," Skelley said. "At the end of the pilot, they would go back in to that same website and enter in the ending mileage. Another option they would have is to, in a similar fashion, take a photo of their odometer each month that they participate in the pilot, starting at the beginning and then at the end of the first month, the end of the second month, at the end of the third month, at the end of the pilot. That would then be inputted through an app on their phone, taking that photo. Another option, again using a phone, would be an application that would record the mileage as they drive, similar to if you enter in a map for a trip in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or any other mapping software that you're using to help give you turn by turn directions, a similar application would then also record the mileage that you drive each day and then report that into the pilot study. Lastly, there's another option people may be able to have. That is actually in board vehicle telematics."
Brands like Volvo, Mercedes, Toyota and Tesla have telematics. A telematics device is an instrument that records information about your driving behavior, including how fast you drive, how hard you brake, and the distance you drive. Sign ups are needed through the end of March.
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