Use of Transportation Utility Fee to Fund Non-auto Transportation Modes

This research examines the extent to which transportation utility (TUF) funds non-auto transportation modes in the US, factors that enable jurisdictions to use TUF to fund these modes, and specific ways in which TUF-levying jurisdictions support these modes. The paper finds that while the use of TUF is growing, it rarely funds non-auto transportation modes. Second, several factors enable jurisdictions to use TUF to fund non-auto transportation modes, including, strong local stakeholder support, broad powers provided by the states to the local jurisdictions to levy fees and taxes, and the local jurisdiction-level authorizing ordinances and policies explicitly allowing the use of TUF revenues for non-auto transportation modes. Third, the case study jurisdictions support non-auto modes in ways that are influenced by three, often interrelated, factors—the amount of fee revenue, whether a portion of the fee revenue is earmarked for non-auto uses, and whether the jurisdiction provides transit service.