Roads commission urges gas tax hike

Last update: January 15, 2008 - 9:17 PM

WASHINGTON - Federal gasoline taxes should be increased up to 40 cents per gallon over five years, a divided special commission urged Tuesday in calling for drastic changes to fix aging bridges and roads and reduce traffic deaths.

The two-year study by the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission is the first to propose broad changes after the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.

Calling for immediate action, the congressionally created panel warned that "applying patches" is no longer acceptable. It said the nation risks tens of thousands of highway casualties each year and millions of dollars lost in economic growth.

The 68-page compilation of findings and recommendations, which were supported by nine of the 12 panel members, is expected to reignite congressional and political debate over raising gasoline taxes. The gas tax has not been increased since 1993, and recent efforts by Congress to increase it have faltered, due in part to objections from the Bush administration.

The commission was expected to present its findings Thursday to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and to a Senate panel later this month, but House Republican leaders quickly said they would oppose a tax hike.

The commission's chairwoman, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, and two other members agreed with several aspects of the report but rejected the gas tax proposal.

ASSOCIATED PRESS