History
Transportation Funding Timeline How we got from A to B
1919
Oregon passes the first state gas tax.
1923
California voters approve state gas tax of two cents per gallon.
1934
First federal gas tax of one cent per gallon.
1940-1957
Congress temporarily raises federal gas taxes in support of World War II and the Korean War.
California increases state gas taxes.
1956
Congress passes the Federal Aid Highway Act, an important piece of legislation that remains the backbone of federal transportation funding today. The bill increases the federal gas tax to three cents.
1980-1990
Additional federal gas tax increases to 14 cents.
California also increases state gas tax to 14 cents.
1993
Last increase in federal gas tax to 18.4 cents.
1994
California increases state gas tax to 18 cents.
2014
The California State Legislature passes SB 1077 (DeSaulnier) to conduct a road charge pilot study system that would collect revenues based on miles traveled.
2015
Congress passes the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which established the Surface Transportation Funding Alternatives grant program to encourage states to explore other ways to fund transportation instead of the gas tax.
2016
California’s Road Charge Pilot Program launches and successfully tests more than 5,000 vehicles that report more than 37 million miles.
2017
California passes SB 1 (Beall), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, which raises the state gas tax 12 cents and includes future cost of living increases. The bill also included a $100 registration fee for zero emission vehicles.
2020
California conducts research relating to road charge impacts to disadvantaged communities and rural drivers, as well as an interoperability pilot with the State of Oregon.
2021
California launches four technology demonstrations: usage-based insurance, ridesharing, EV charging stations/pay-at-the-pump systems, and autonomous vehicles.
Congress directs USDOT to conduct a national RUC Pilot.
California passes SB 339.
2023
Public/Private Roads Project pilot completed in September 2023.
2024
Road Charge Collection Pilot (SB 339).
