A new online calculator can show taxpayers living in Missouri how much of their tax money from motor fuel tax revenue is being invested in transportation projects throughout the state.
The online calculator, called Transportation Dollar$, is easy to use. It enables local residents to add up their annual mileage, as well as their miles per gallon, to determine their rate of pay. The calculator also shows what a rise in the fuel tax would do to their bottom line.
“I think people will be surprised at how little they’re currently investing in the transportation system,” Patrick McKenna, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, said. “For most drivers, a fuel-tax increase would only cost a few dollars a year.”
Users can get further information about how much it costs to maintain roads and bridges in the state. The app includes estimates for resurfacing one mile on a two-lane road, as well as the cost of building, or potentially rebuilding, the same stretch of road.
“There’s a lot of discussion in the Missouri General Assembly about ways to secure a stable revenue stream for Missouri’s transportation system,” McKenna said. “The online calculator shows how little a fuel tax increase would impact your personal finances. It’s less than a dollar a month for most Missouri drivers.”
