Money for roads and transit

The Baltimore Sun has a front page story on the impact of reduced gasoline excise taxes on Maryland specifically, both in terms of reduced state revenues from the state tax, as well as reduced revenues from the federal tax--because the number of vehicle miles traveled is decreasing, and people are driving smaller cars that get better gas mileage, therefore buying less gas overall. See "Road block?."

State Transportation Secretary Porcari pointed out that smaller cars also pay less in terms of titling and registration fees (which also support the Department of Motor Vehicles infrastructure) and that just like increase in energy costs is impacting transit systems negatively--because they spend a lot of money on fuel for buses--it is also increasing the cost of asphalt, especially because improvements in refining technology mean that less heavy oil is available for conversion. The cost for asphalt has doubled. (Belgian Block...)

This makes the impasse in the State of Virginia on raising funds for transportation infrastructure all the more telling.