CalTrans looking for Road Charge pilot program volunteers

On Tuesday, Caltrans announced it was looking for volunteers to participate in a pilot program that would test a new system to pay for infrastructure repairs.

The system, called a “road charge,” is a per mile fee assed to drivers as a way to pay for road maintenance based on how much drivers use the roads, rather than how much gas they buy. Experts project that gas tax revenues will decrease in the coming years because of a surge in electric vehicle use. Senate Bill 339, passed in 2021, established a pilot program to test alternative ways to maintain California roads that would not rely as heavily on gas taxes.

Officials said the “road charge” could potentially show a net savings for some motorists.

The pilot program, the Road Charge Collection Pilot, will be conducted for six months – from August until January 2025. The pilot will test the system’s payment process and other elements. If selected, eligible volunteers can earn up to $400 in incentives for testing the system and giving feedback. Interested drivers can fill out a form at caroadcharge.com. Those selected for the program will be notified in July.

Officials said the state has been studying the road charge system for more than a decade. This pilot will specifically test revenue collection by requiring pilot participant in the program to pay a flat-fee per mile, or a customized feed based on the miles-per-gallon fuel economy of their car. The program is the first of its kind to be tested in the state that would require actual road charges. There is no policy mandate or outcome attached to the pilot program’s results and all of the information collected will be reported to the state legislature.

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