VPP Projects Not Involving Tolls
Category: Projects that Make Auto Use Costs Variable

MINNESOTA: Mileage-Based User Fee Regional Outreach Statewide

This project is an effort to provide important input and enhance the national projects examining replacement for the motor fuel tax. What is lacking in these other national studies is an effort is to understand public attitudes and to increase public awareness about the motor fuel tax challenge. With that in mind, we propose to do an assessment of public understanding of mileage-based road user charges through market research, outreach and education. Subsequently, this project will provide direct input into ongoing work looking at the motor fuel tax replacement and how the need for a new or replacement tax might be communicated.

A baseline survey of experts regarding public understanding of existing transportation funding systems and issues will be conducted. Subsequently, through focus groups and general surveys we will "drill down" into the public attitudes as to the root causes of attitudes, regional differences, and provide insight into ways in which solutions might be framed. These messages will then be tested to develop a communications strategy that could be employed to market mileage-based fees and messages.

Implementation Funds Awarded

September 2006

October - December 2011 Update

In early 2007 under the federally funded Value Pricing Program, Mn/DOT began assessing customer opinions and perceptions to a mileage-based user fee (MBUF going forward) in varying configurations of models. Focus groups were conducted in the spring of that year, (pre-collapse of 35W Bridge) and a report was presented a few months after the collapse. The final phase of this work involved the execution of a quantitative survey regard the public perceptions of mileage-based user fees. The final reports for all phases of this work can be viewed at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/funding/mileage-based-user-fee/. The results from the quantitative phase were presented to Mn/DOT in November and December, 2009. Results and recommendations ensuing from this work will help Mn/DOT and other transportation authorities develop communications and messaging around the MBUF. Mn/DOT has now begun a technical demonstration project with MBUF technology scheduled for deployment in summer 2011.

For More Information Contact

Kenneth R. Buckeye
Program Manager Value Pricing
Phone: (651) 366-3737
E-mail: kenneth.buckeye@dot.state.mn.us

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