As more people in New Mexico turn to fuel-efficient and electric vehicles to lower greenhouse emissions, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) is faced with a declining funding source.
NMDOT relies heavily on revenue from the state's gas tax to fix and maintain roads across the Land of Enchantment, according to KRQE.
"The primary source for road funding is the gas tax," Joseph De La Rosa, an executive staff member at NMDOT, told state lawmakers at a recent subcommittee meeting. "That has been declining, in terms of purchasing power, as the fuel efficiency has gone up.”
Lawmakers are now looking at new ways to generate money to keep up with 100,000 miles of roads in New Mexico. While the shift towards fuel-efficient or electric vehicles is helping the environment, the shrinking revenue creates a financial problem since less money is available for road work, KRQE reported.
One possible solution is a road usage fee that would be based on miles driven – unlike a toll, which is charged only for a specific stretch of road. This road usage fee could be used to replace the gas tax in the future or supplement the way drivers contribute to road repairs.
De La Rosa said that other states, like California, have a statewide program for electric vehicles, while Colorado completed a pilot program but is not currently pursuing a road usage charge, according to KRQE.