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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 30, 2024 |
MEDIA CONTACT Michael Frezell 517-281-6519 [email protected] |
MDOT launches road usage charges survey
to gauge public interest
Fast facts:
– MDOT is launching a road usage charges survey at www.Michigan.gov/MIRoadCharge.
– The survey will give the public the opportunity to weigh in on possible new ways to sustainably and fairly fund and maintain the state transportation system.
– Respondents will receive a $10 gift card for their participation.
LANSING, Mich. – Starting Jan. 30 through March 1, Michigan residents will have the opportunity to weigh in on the way we all pay for roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure in the state through a new road usage charges survey. Each respondent will receive a $10 gift card for their participation. To participate, go to www.Michigan.gov/MIRoadCharge.
The survey, being conducted by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in partnership with Via Transportation, Inc. (Via) through funding provided through a federal grant, seeks to understand Michiganders’ attitudes toward potential replacements for the state gas tax. While no changes like this are being debated by the Legislature at this time, the statewide survey is the first step in exploring new ways to sustainably and fairly fund and maintain public transit systems, roads, bridges, and other crucial transportation infrastructure in Michigan.
One possible funding tool is road usage charges, which means drivers would pay a few cents for each mile driven versus paying based on how much gas they buy. Charging based on miles driven could make the system fairer for drivers who cannot afford newer, more fuel-efficient cars, while also ensuring that the state continues to have the resources needed to maintain roads in the future as vehicles become more fuel efficient or rely on alternative fuels.
Eligibility:
Respondents must be a Michigan resident aged 18 or older and can take the survey only once. Qualifying survey participants will be invited to participate in a pilot demonstration this fall to help us understand how road usage charges could work in Michigan. If interested, please let us know when completing the survey. By participating in the pilot demonstration, you could be eligible for additional incentives ranging from $75 to $500.
Participants should allow up to two weeks to receive a gift card. Gift cards will arrive by e-mail from [email protected] with the subject “Michigan Department of Transportation sent you a gift card.” If a participant is having issues with the survey, please e-mail [email protected] using the e-mail address that was provided when completing the survey.
Accessibility:
The survey is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese. Participants who require mobility, visual, hearing, written, or other assistance for effective participation should contact Orlando Curry at 517-241-7462 or [email protected]. Forms are located on the Title VI webpage. Requests will be evaluated and honored to the extent possible.
About Via Transportation:
Founded in 2012, Via pioneered the TransitTech category by using new technologies to develop public mobility systems. Via works to fundamentally improve the way the world moves, providing technology in 600 communities and more than 35 countries and counting. Via is supporting MDOT in both survey implementation and pilot technology deployment to explore road usage charging in the state of Michigan.