Living in a rural area without access to public transportation, this would be horribly unfair. On an average, I drive 40 miles each way to work. It's 90% highway miles in a car that gets about 30 mpg. As it is, I fill up the 15 gal tank at least twice a week, sometimes more. If the system changes, people living in urban areas will pay the least (if they avail themselves of public transport or live close to work) but, as history shows, will benefit the most from road improvements. State roads tend to be the last repaired when compared to city streets, federal highways. And lord help you if you live on a dirt road!

Nope, not a fair solution at all.

Personally, I favor toll roads. People who use the roads pay for the upkeep -- especially the large trucks that are so hard on them.

Also, states should be forced to use materials that will last! That cold patch junk is useless. Black top should be thick enough to stand up to the weather.

Hi! The original article I clipped was titled : "Taxing Miles Driven Instead Of Gas Burned?"
CBS has since updated it with the new title of "Obama Nixes Mileage Tax Idea"

I hate it when they do that.

Of course, being that the Transportation Secretary is Obama's pick, I naturally thought that he would have at least chatted with Obama about his idea....

So, even though this particular worry has been circumvented, it's still a tax and spend government and I can't put anything past them. But that said, I'll keep my salt shaker handy...