Current Transportation Funding
GAS TAX
FEDERAL GAS TAX 18.4¢ (per gallon)
No change since 1993 - Approximately 87% returned to Texas
STATE GAS TAX 20.0¢ (per gallon)
No change since 1991 - Approximately 50% goes to highways/transportation
TOTAL GAS TAX 38.4¢ (per gallon)
OTHE CHALLENGES:
- Construction costs increased by an average of 4.39% per year since 2003, according to the ENR Index.
- Texas is the 8th fastest growing state in the country and that growth is centered in cities like San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston, which all compete for scarce transportation funding resources.
- Efforts to increase the state's gasoline tax have been rejected by lawmakers since 1991.
- Maintenance costs alone consume most of the state's gas tax revenue, which makes it difficult to maintain our investment in existing highways and state roads, let alone build new ones.
More funding options are needed.
Alternative transportation funding sources must be considered. Some options under consideration include:
- Indexing or Increasing the Gas Tax
- Increasing the State/Local Salex Tax
- Increasing the Property Tax
- Increasing the Vehicle Registration Fee
- Toll Lanes
