{"id":2587366,"date":"2026-04-05T15:12:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T19:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americas-decaying-highways-are-about-to-get-much-worse-thanks-to-key-funds-demise\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T15:15:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T19:15:30","slug":"americas-decaying-highways-are-about-to-get-much-worse-thanks-to-key-funds-demise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americas-decaying-highways-are-about-to-get-much-worse-thanks-to-key-funds-demise\/","title":{"rendered":"America&#8217;s Decaying Highways Are About to Get Much Worse Thanks to Key Fund&#8217;s Demise"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Famericas-decaying-highways-are-about-to-get-much-worse-thanks-to-key-funds-demise%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2587366&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Warning signs are flashing for America\u2019s decaying highway infrastructure as the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) is projected to run out of cash by the late 2020s. If depleted, highway and transit funding could be cut by about 46%, leading to project freezes, payment delays, and state-level tax increases or self-funding. The HTF relies heavily on the gas tax (18.4 cents per gallon, unchanged since 1993), and as vehicles become more fuel-efficient and EVs proliferate, revenue has fallen short of needs despite decades of \u201cuser pay\u201d funding. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law added roughly $383 billion to the HTF but is set to expire around 2026, with discussions underway about reauthorization or a short-term extension. Policy experts advocate practical steps like a mileage-based or vehicle-type-based charging system,while also noting security concerns (GPS vulnerability and dependence on non-U.S.battery supplies) and the broader impact of regulatory delays on project costs. The article also highlights mixed outcomes from prior infrastructure initiatives, such as the 2021 package\u2019s large spend with limited tangible results, including rural broadband efforts, and cites ongoing concerns about the nation\u2019s infrastructure grade and funding stability.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Warning signs are flashing for America&rsquo;s already-decaying highway infrastructure as a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >key transportation fund quickly runs<\/a> out of cash.The Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which funds roads, bridges, and public transit, is set to be exhausted by 2028, according to a<span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\"> letter <\/span>authored by more than 100 policy experts and economists and sent to Congress.<\/p>\n<p>If the HTF were depleted, highway and transportation funding would face a 46 percent cut, resulting in project freezes and payment delays and forcing states to fund projects themselves, leading to tax increases on their residents.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The gas tax and diesel tax &hellip; are no longer a sufficient source of funding for the Trust Fund,&rdquo; a spokesperson for Republican Missouri Rep. Sam Graves, who heads the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told the Daily Caller News Foundation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;More vehicles are using less gas &mdash; or no gas, in the case of EVs &mdash; so not everyone is paying their fair  for the use of the roads.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The spokesperson added that the Highway Trust Fund has exceeded revenues since 2001 and relied on &ldquo;user pay&rdquo; since its founding, but the model is becoming increasingly strained.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadAnyclip() { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst container=document.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!container) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=\"https:\/\/player.anyclip.com\/anyclip-widget\/lre-widget\/prod\/v1\/src\/lre.js\"; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"pubname\", \"westernjournalcom\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"widgetname\", \"001w000001jULVcAAO_M12924\");  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ append inside the container so player shows in correct spot \t\t\t\t\t\tcontainer.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadAnyclip(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #anyclipvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#anyclipvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">&ldquo;Our transportation systems are critical to our national security, economy, and way of life,&rdquo; A spokesperson for Republican North Carolina Rep. David Rouzer, chairman of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee, told the DCNF. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">&ldquo;As vehicles have become more fuel efficient &mdash; or, in the case of EVs, do not pay any gas tax at all &mdash; it is important to identify new sources of funding that are fair to all users and sustainable long-term.&rdquo;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which provides roughly<span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/es.mtc.ca.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/2022-01\/BIL_Surface_Transportation_Provisions.pdf?cb=a7c89ab3#:~:text=%241.1%20billion,-1%20Transportation%20authorization&amp;text=%E2%80%9Cguaranteed%E2%80%9D%E2%80%94in%20addition%20to,certainty%20for%20grants%20of%20interest.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$383 Billion<\/a><span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span>to the HTF, is set to expire sometime in 2026. Lawmakers are working on reauthorizing the BIL this year, though it&rsquo;s unlikely, and a short-term extension of the bill may be coming to give Congress more time to address the HTF, according to<span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eenews.net\/articles\/hopes-fade-for-highway-bill-ahead-of-sept-30-deadline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Politico<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The letter promotes several solutions, such as the &ldquo;user pay&rdquo; model, where drivers and riders pay taxes that go to construction and repairs, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-maine-democrat-gov-janet-mills-administration-weighs-gas-tax-to-pay-for-pricey-clean-transportation\/\" title=\"Report: Maine Democrat Gov. Janet Mills\u2019 Administration Weighs ... to ... for Pricey \u2018Clean Transportation\u2019\">mileage-based fees<\/a> for drivers, and improving price sensitivity by aligning fees paid by a driver more closely with the vehicle type, for example, a commercial vehicle versus a sedan.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We respectfully urge Congress to take practical, incremental steps in the upcoming transportation legislation to put the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) on a stable and sustainable path,&rdquo; the letter states.<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, a record-breaking $1.2 trillion infrastructure<span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\"> bill<\/span><span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span>was signed into law by former President Joe Biden,<span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/stories\/2021\/08\/us-infrastructure-bill-explained\/#:~:text=%22Too%20often%20in%20Washington%2C%20the,bill%20ahead%20of%20its%20passing.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">aimed<\/a><span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span>at rebuilding infrastructure and expanding internet access, with little results 5 years later.<\/p>\n<p>Around $42 billion was earmarked to provide internet to those in rural areas, but the project failed to launch a single project or connect a single user.<\/p>\n<p>The 2025 Report Card for America&rsquo;s Infrastructure gave roads a<span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/infrastructurereportcard.org\/cat-item\/roads-infrastructure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">&ldquo;D+,&rdquo;<\/a><span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">  a small increase from the previous &ldquo;D&rdquo; grade in 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Nation&rsquo;s Highways, Bridges and Transit<span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fhwa.dot.gov\/policy\/25cpr\/pdf\/CP25_Full_Report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">report<\/a><span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span>by the Department of Transportation cited poor ride quality worsened from a 2008-2018 period (rising from 15.8 percent to 22.6 percent).<\/p>\n<p>The HTF currently relies heavily on the gas tax, which accounts for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fhwa.dot.gov\/ipd\/value_capture\/traditional_transportation_revenue\/federal.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">91%<\/a> of all revenue deposited into the fund. The tax rate, which currently sits at 18.4 cents per gallon, has remained unchanged since 1993.<\/p>\n<p>Fewer Americans are&nbsp;also <a href=\"https:\/\/bipartisanpolicy.org\/article\/highway-trust-fund-impact-of-evs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">paying<\/a> into the system as electric vehicles grow in popularity.<\/p>\n<p>Graves previously supported a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/us-lawmaker-wants-collect-ev-fees-highway-repairs-2026-03-17\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">proposal<\/a> to impose a $250 annual fee on electric vehicles and a $100 fee on hybrids as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, though the measure was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eenews.net\/articles\/the-ev-and-hybrid-fee-is-dead-for-now\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">not included<\/a> in the final legislative text.<\/p>\n<p>Foreign attacks could also harm GPS systems used to provide drivers with navigation and positioning, the letter warns. It also suggests ending dependence on Chinese-made batteries for electric vehicles and charging stations due to security threats.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;A GPS outage would cost billions of dollars daily.&rdquo; The letter to Congress states. &ldquo;Cars driven in America should carry GPS backup systems tested by the US Department of Transportation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Infrastructure is far more expensive than it should be due to regulatory burdens that lead to delays, experts wrote. Layered regulations require projects to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, leading to overlap. A large urban project could face an average delay of 11 months and $5.1 million in additional economic costs, according to a 2011 Texas Transportation Institute<span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/library.ctr.utexas.edu\/hostedpdfs\/tti\/project-delay-summary.pdf\">study<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"gmail-p1\"><span class=\"gmail-s1\">Fixing the trust fund is not &ldquo;urgent quite yet,&rdquo; Senior Fellow for the Eno Center for Transportation Jeff Davis told DCNF, although he noted that the fund will be depleted by 2027 or 2028.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">&ldquo;The Mass Transit Account of the Trust Fund will run out of money late in fiscal year 2027, and the much larger Highway Account will run out of money the following year,&rdquo; Davis said, citing Congressional Budget Office projections. <\/span>&ldquo;Once the Trust Fund runs out of money, FHWA and FTA can&rsquo;t make reimbursements. They have to wait for new estimated tax receipts to be transferred to the Trust Fund.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Davis warned that some states will face cash-management issues, and eventually state highway departments and transit agencies may shut down if they no longer receive funding from the FHWA and FTA.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>The CBO recently<span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/epicforamerica.org\/federal-budget\/cbo-obbbs-cafe-fix-helps-highway-trust-fund\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">increased<\/a><span class=\"gmail-Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span>the HTF revenue projections by $82 billion over the 2026-2035 period due to increased future fuel needs, following the elimination of penalties for noncompliance with fuel economy standards in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). Shrinking the deficit from $410 billion to $340 billion.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/union-membership-plummets-to-record-low\/\" title=\"Union Membership Plummets to Record Low\">legitimate news publisher<\/a> that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter&rsquo;s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s a paraphrase of the excerpt you supplied:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The United States\u2019 highway system is deteriorating while its main funding source is running low on cash. The Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which supports roads, bridges, and public transit, could be exhausted by 2028, according to a letter from more than 100 policy experts and economists to Congress. If the HTF runs dry, highway and transportation funding could be cut by about 46%, causing project freezes, payment delays, and forcing states to fund projects themselves, potentially leading to higher taxes for residents.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; A spokesperson for Rep. Sam Graves notes that gas and diesel taxes are no longer adequate to fund the HTF because more vehicles use less fuel or no fuel (as with EVs), so not everyone contributes fairly to road usage. The fund has taken in more than it spends since 2001 and has relied on a \u201cuser pay\u201d model since its inception, but that model is increasingly strained.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The letter urges practical, incremental steps in upcoming transportation legislation to put the HTF on a stable, sustainable path. Proposed ideas include continuing the \u201cuser pay\u201d approach, mileage-based fees for drivers, and better aligning fees with vehicle type (for example, charging higher fees for commercial vehicles than for sedans).<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which provided about $383 billion to the HTF, is due to expire around 2026. Lawmakers are working on reauthorizing it, but that seems unlikely, and a short-term extension may be used to give Congress more time to address the HTF.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The letter also touches on broader funding questions, such as the need for new sources that are fair and sustainable as vehicle technology evolves and fuels taxes become less effective.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Background context includes the 2021 infrastructure package (a roughly $1.2 trillion bill) aimed at rebuilding infrastructure and expanding internet access, which has had limited results five years later. About $42 billion was earmarked for rural internet expansion, but no project had been launched and no users connected.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The 2025 Report Card for America\u2019s Infrastructure gave roads a D+, up slightly from a D in 2021, with the Nation\u2019s highways, bridges, and transit reporting poorer ride quality compared to 2008-2018. The HTF currently relies heavily on the gas tax (about 91% of its revenue), and the 18.4-cent-per-gallon rate hasn\u2019t changed since 1993. Fewer people are paying into the system as electric vehicles become more common.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The letter notes policy ideas such as imposing a $250 annual fee on EVs and a $100 fee on hybrids (as part of broader proposals) and raises concerns about GPS vulnerabilities and dependence on foreign-made batteries for EVs and charging stations due to security risks. It suggests that a GPS outage would cost billions daily and urges the United States to support GPS backups tested by the Department of Transportation.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The infrastructure process is hindered by regulatory complexity that creates delays and costs. A 2011 Texas Transportation Institute study found that large urban projects could face about 11 months of delay and $5.1 million in additional costs due to overlapping federal, state, and local requirements.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Some experts, such as Jeff Davis of the Eno Center for Transportation, say fixing the HTF isn\u2019t \u201curgent\u201d yet, but warn that the fund will be depleted by 2027 or 2028. Once it runs dry, FHWA and FTA would be unable to reimburse projects until new tax receipts are deposited, potentially causing cash-management problems for states and possibly forcing some highway departments and transit agencies to shut down.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently projected higher HTF revenues by $82 billion for 2026-2035, tied to anticipated increases in future fuel needs after changes associated with penalties for noncompliance with fuel economy standards under the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). This projection helps shrink the overall federal deficit related to the HTF from about $410 billion to roughly $340 billion.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; This paraphrase reflects content from the Daily Caller News Foundation and includes general licensing notes about reprinting and attribution<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2587367,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7474-1.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[76480,77202,3902,77204,77203],"class_list":["post-2587366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-funding-cuts-2","tag-highways","tag-infrastructure","tag-public-works","tag-road-maintenance"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7474-1.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2587366"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2587370,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587366\/revisions\/2587370"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2587367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2587366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2587366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2587366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}