I think it is very ironic or coincidental that as I approach my one-year anniversary of my blog, [first article] which started because the Eugene Registerguard refused to print any of my letter's the editor on this subject, that I would be once again warning people about the same little moneymaking plan of ODOT's to install a GPS system in your car TO CHARGE YOU PER MILE PAYABLE WHEN YOU FILL UP road tax.
[Anyway, one year later] ODOT will begin a 10 month test of 280 vehicles in the Portland area which a report to two fueling stations to get a first reading on GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS THAT WILL TRACK HOW FAR THEY DRIVE.
Jim Whitty of the Oregon Department of Transportation is overseeing the project.
" If Oregon eventually adopts the system, the fuel tax would remain in place, Whitty said, because only new cars would have the technology, and Oregon also would have to account for vehicles from other states. "
... because only new vehicles would have the technology? That is singing a different tune. Will car manufacturers be installing these devices? Will it become a nationwide thing? Another reason for me not to buy a new car?
ODOT plan nicknamed Road User Key Task Force (RUFTF)
The device, we'll keep track of how many miles that each passenger vehicle in Oregon travels within the state and what time of day as well as how much congestion was on the road at the time will determine how much per mile that you will pay. There has been talk to automatically charge the driver a road toll for various locations payable at the gas pump.
ODOT is concerned that higher mileage vehicles will mean less revenue.
Roughly translated... they can charge you a VARIABLE tax depending on WHERE, and WHEN you travel. I.e. when you go to work in the morning at 8 a.m., you may pay more per mile at that time because the roads are considered congested and pay a lesser tax/fee for traveling on the same road at 3 p.m. when the roads are less congested. In their own words, "for simplicity, the Road user Key task force recommends only one rate adjustment; for time of day mileage pricing is cystic areas to solve congestion problems and support [mass transit] congestion reducing programs."
" How would electronic calculation of mileage work? While numerous technological devices are available to count miles driven, the task force has chosen two as the best possibilities. One is a simple version of the global positioning system (GPS). The other possibility is an Odometer Tag, an electronic sensor connected to the odometer. Either device would eliminate out-of-state mileage from fee calculation. The mileage data would be downloaded in wireless fashion over a short distance via radio frequency. The download of mileage data would be transmitted no farther than a few feet to a local reader. "
According to ODOT, "the mileage fee rate would be about 1.25 cents per mile [do the math] which they claim would be similar to what you're paying at the pump now.
under the current system, the amount that you pay per mile of course depends on your gas mileage
What do the gubernatorial candidates think about this?
Jason Atkinson, while no longer a gubernatorial candidate, is still a sitting senator, told me in person that he is absolutely against it.
Ron Saxton, told Lars Larson on the air that he would kill the project.
Ted Kulongoski, we don't know because he won't answer any questions, so therefore we must assume that he is in favor of this project since it is happening on his watch.
5 comments:
Hmm. The Medford Mail Tribune almost always publishes my letters to the editor. I can usually be pretty terse too and that doesn't stop them. I have friends that write decent letters and on topic and the paper NEVER publishes them. Wish I knew!
No, I am not anti-public transit.
Cars have their place... mass transit has their place. And the two can live in harmony together.
In fact, in April, I contributed to mass transit by having to pay the LTD tax.
If I am anti-anything, I am anti-wasting money.
Let's take the EmX high-speed [choke] bus system for example.
Consider what you're really getting for your money. You're spending millions of dollars for a bus line that only travels 14 miles and cuts five minutes off their travel time. The argument in favor of the system is that the buses are hybrid and will have control over the traffic light.
Okay, so let's go with that for a minute. Not too long ago, LTD scrapped its BREEZE hybrid buses because of excessive maintenance problems and the manufacturer went out of business.
These buses despite their problems, made a lot more sense than the EmX system dollar for dollar.
The BREEZE was not limited to any particular roadway as the EmX's buses are, nor do BREEZE require redoing the roadways to handle the 50,000 pounds of each bus.
This also makes the BREEZE system more flexible.
Additionally, when you look at the millions of dollars that is being spent on the EmX's, how many more buses could you add to LTD's fleet in comparison?
It just doesn't pencil out.
I will give them credit for not using a fixed rail system between Eugene and Springfield.
As far as the gas tax. To be honest, I really would not have any problem in increasing gas tax if we were GUARANTEED that the tax would go for the roads. So far, that is not the case.
and do I want a GPS system in my car strictly for the purpose of taxing me... no way. besides, what is the advantage of driving a more economical vehicle if it is not going to save any money?
Take the city of Eugene for example, you practically have to drive a four-wheel-drive vehicle to get around the potholes within the city.
More interesting things that I found yesterday as I was doing research on roadside cameras, was some of the projects that ODOT is planning. For example, Intelligent Transportation System(ITS) [ link] is planning on adding sensors up and down the freeway so that reader boards can display in real-time the length of time that it will take to get to your destination. For example, Eugene 15 miles, 25 minutes. Useful information granted, necessary in this economy? No. More of a luxury item.
So where does the money come from to pay for all these luxury items? You guessed it, the gas tax.
So with that being said, if my bias is Pro car, I admit it. But I've been around long enough and seen too many times when we voted in favor of a tax for one project, such as the sheriff's levy for example back in the 70s, only to see the money diverted to another project that was unrelated. E.g. the Hult Center.
There is no guarantee that the money will go to the program specified because there is always a small clause at the end that allows the money to be diverted if they change their minds. the lottery is a perfect example. Wasn't it supposed to save the education system? Oh, I forgot, they need the lottery money for other things like sheep ranches and winery upgrades, the education can wait.
It doesn't matter WHAT the tax is originally for, it never stays where you put it.
anonymous backwards: In your effort to psychoanalyze Robin's inner hidden agenda you obfuscate the obvious with your mental masterbation. Having followed Robin's postings for months, I assume she has many of the same concerns that I do. 1. Fiscal responsibility. 23 million dollars to go 4 miles. 23 million dollars to shorten the commute time by 5 mins. Chances are that unless you work in one of the city centers, you will still have to wait for a connecting bus.
Please read from the Register Guard article:
"By the end of 2006, five state-of-the-art buses are expected to replace the No. 11 bus along the four-mile portion of the route between the Eugene LTD station at Willamette Street and 11th Avenue, and the Springfield Station at Pioneer Parkway and South A Street.
Though the new vehicles won't be particularly rapid - they'll stick to posted speed limits - LTD says the service will be: The buses will use designated lanes and have fewer stops, special loading platforms and control of traffic signals to shave five minutes - and often more - off the 21-minute ride."
All of this waste while they trim the existing routes, cut the number of trips, and treat their employees like crap until they go on stike.
2. The purposed tax per mile is another bureaucratic nightmare in itself. First, you would need the odometer police to ensure that no one tampers with the GPS or Odometer tagger. Second, how would an Odometer tag know to shut off if you went out of state? Do you have to have a RFID reader at every road out of the state? If you have the unit on your car do you have to pay tax at the pump and for your mileage or do you get a rebate at the end of the year for your double taxation? With mileage varing from 8-60 mpg, how can ODOT say that the amount you pay will be approx. the same as the pump tax?
3. And finally, the most important aspect of all to me is that I don't want anything to do with the government putting GPS sensors in my car, my money, or my left hand. This RFID, cameras everywhere, wire tapping, big brother induced hysteria has already gone too far.
But hey, that's just my view.
It is no secret that there are people that are trying to get you out of your car's any way that they can. For example, in the September 2005 article from the Oregon Daily Emerald &Robin's Nest, "if you do not absolutely have to drive, don't," said Department of public safety (DPS) Parking Manager Rand Stamm, who rides the bus, said DPS deliberately crafts his policies to discourage driving and encourage the use of alternative transportation."
So for the record, I see the need for mass transit. however, I also see the need for personal transportation. there are times when mass transit is not practical. so there has to be a balance between the two.
I feel that the $29 million that they are spending for the 14 mile route is ridiculous comparably to the number of newer buses that you could purchase for the same amount of money and not be limited to a fixed route.
ODOT's GPS project is the beginning of an even bigger issue.
For example here are the reasons why it's really a bad idea,
#1 the amount per mile you be charged will vary on the time of day and the amount of traffic congestion on the road. Under the current system, you pay your taxes in advance. You know that when you pull up to the pump you're going to pay $3.05 per gallon, not $3.05 per gallon plus a variable tax.
Basically you're giving the state carte blanche to charge whatever they wish to charge.
The bigger picture here is that other states are also looking at this project as a means of raising revenue. So for example, if you fill your tank up in Oregon which may charge an average of 1.5 cents per mile and then crossed the state line into California, you might be charged 2.5 cents per mile, which will be payable at your next fill up.
consider this... [and ODOT already has, which is why they want a system like this] if you drive a high mileage vehicle or motorcycle for example, the percentage of tax per gallon would be more than the current system. For example, my Honda 350 motorcycle gets 75 miles to the gallon. That means instead of paying $.42 in tax, [under the current system] I would be paying $1.125 per gallon. in short, I would be penalized by paying more tax per gallon for driving a vehicle that is environmentally cleaner and does less damaged to the roads than a car.
#2 insurance companies will be the next in line to get your mileage records.
Currently they estimate how many miles that you travel within the year.
And if you don't think that they're looking for ways to raise your rates... then why do they want your credit score?
#3 Department of motor vehicles (DMV) openly admits that they sell your personal information to advertisers. advertisers pay big money to track where you surf on the Internet, a GPS system in your vehicle would be no different.
#4 who's going to pay for the GPS system to be mounted in your car. ODOT is claiming that it will utilize current technology built in new vehicles for their mileage collection systems. [Little Black boxes] at some point, older vehicles will have to be equipped with the GPS mileage collection systems as gas stations convert over.
I hope that this helps clarify my stand on these two projects.
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