"The Highway Trust Fund is the primary federal mechanism for surface transportation. It receives revenue mainly from the federal fuel tax (18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel) plus taxes on tires, heavy vehicles, and some other sources. The fund has two accounts: (1) the Highway Account (road construction, maintenance, and other surface transportation projects), and (2) the much smaller Mass Transit Account."
"Debates about how Americans should pay for roads are endless: General taxpayer funding, regardless of whether someone drives Per-mile charges (vehicle miles traveled fees) Weight-based fees, since heavy trucks and EVs cause disproportionate damage And the less common full privatization, letting owners/operators set tolls and other forms of charging road users But the debates often sidestep or ignore any sense of urgency."
The Highway Trust Fund finances surface transportation through two accounts: a Highway Account for road construction and maintenance and a smaller Mass Transit Account. Revenues come mainly from federal fuel taxes (18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline, 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel), plus taxes on tires, heavy vehicles, and other sources. For more than two decades, revenues have fallen short of federal highway spending, prompting transfers from the Treasury's general fund. The CBO projects HTF balances will be exhausted in 2028. Funding options include general taxpayer funding, per-mile charges, weight-based fees, and privatization, but current revenues cannot cover existing maintenance needs.
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