Buechner cited the reports from the congressionally-chartered National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission, and the National Surface Transportation Policy & Revenue Study Commission, which reached a similar conclusion: the most efficient way to increase transportation improvement revenue is to raise the federal gas and diesel tax rates and then index them annually to inflation to finance the next authorization bill.

All other revenue options such as tolling, public-private partnerships, and congestion pricing should also be on the table, Buechner testified. A plan to transition to a vehicle-miles-traveled user fee system for the long term should also be included in the final legislation.

He urged the subcommittee to look at new revenue enhancements to support the development of a federally-led, accelerated program to ensure the nation has the infrastructure necessary to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of goods as proposed in the ARTBA's "Critical Commerce Corridors" initiative.

The association engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers to develop the structure, administration and revenue estimates for this new freight-related excise and provided it to the subcommittee. To finance this important new initiative outside the gas tax, ARTBA proposes establishment of a new federal freight-related fee - a "Highway Transportation Services Tax," similar to the federal aviation services tax that has been in operation since the early 1970s.