Access User Fee – Sample support text for business and partner organizations

See below for a sample overview and support text to endorse an access user fee approach. This language can be modified as need be to suit the needs of each chamber or partner organization.

Access User Fee – overview and proposed action item

Overview

RTA, the North Carolina Chamber, and chambers of commerce across the region and state are working with other partners to advance an “access user fee” framework for modernizing transportation funding and as a replacement for the gas tax.

• An access user fee — which applies a consistent fee to all registered vehicles, regardless of annual usage — is a simple, fair, and resilient method of replacing the state gas tax, supporting economic development in both metro and rural areas, and stabilizing funding to keep projects moving.
• Everyone would pay the same, predictable monthly or annual access fee rate, regardless of the type of vehicle, where you live or work, or monthly variation in travel.
• An access fee is a user fee, not a usage fee. It is based on the value of access to the entire mobility network. This is analogous to a typical monthly mobile phone bill, which does not vary regardless of minutes used.
• North Carolina has had a partial access user fee for electric vehicles since 2013, and a partial access user fee for hybrid vehicles as of January 2024. The existing partial access user fee rates are $214.50/year for electric vehicles and $107.25/year for hybrid vehicles. Those fees index periodically due to inflation.
• RTA has contracted with RTI international to determine what a revenue neutral access user fee would be; the current (2024) amount would be $252/year, or $21/month. This amount is based on the average state gas tax paid per registered vehicle in North Carolina.
• The state gas tax would be simultaneously repealed upon full implementation of an access user fee.
• The access user fee would apply to all registered vehicles, except those propelled by diesel fuel. Diesel fuel taxes would remain in place.

 

Requested action by the Chamber (suggested draft motion)

“The [name of] Chamber of Commerce endorses an “access user fee” framework for modernizing transportation funding in North Carolina.”

• An access fee is a simple, fair, and resilient method of replacing the state gas tax, supporting economic development in both metropolitan and rural areas, and stabilizing funding to keep projects moving.
• Under an access fee approach, everyone would pay the same, predictable annual or monthly rate, regardless of the type of vehicle, the fuel it uses, where you live or work, or monthly variation in travel. This is analogous to a typical monthly mobile phone bill, which does not vary regardless of minutes used.
• The Chamber applauds the NC General Assembly for its strong progress on this issue, including the implementation of partial access user fees for both electric and hybrid vehicles.
• We encourage full implementation of the access user fee approach for all non-diesel vehicles.

 

Next steps, and more information

[The Chamber is a long-standing member of the RTA Regional Leadership Team.] RTA will continue to work with other partners across the region and state to push for full implementation of an access user fee for all non-diesel powered vehicles.

• RTA access user fee overview page:  www.letsgetmoving.org/AccessUserFee
• RTA access user fees FAQs:  www.letsgetmoving.org/AccessUserFeeFAQs

Access User Fee support:

• Regional Transportation Alliance – RTA