Of the many states that have enhanced their transportation revenues in recent years, most enacted an MFT increase. The State of Illinois should increase its MFT by at least 15 cents in the near term and index the overall rate to an inflationary measure to offset the long decline in purchasing power of the current 19-cent rate that has been in effect since 1990. Similarly, the federal gas tax, set at 18.4 cents per gallon in 1993, should be increased and indexed to an inflationary measure, improving solvency of the federal Highway Trust Fund without requiring non-transportation revenue infusions. However, the MFT no longer reflects the way people travel or the many types of vehicles on the road. Fuel efficiency has increased, which erodes revenue despite its environmental and consumer benefits, and projections suggest electric vehicles will become a much larger part of the fleet. Over the long term, then, the state and the federal government should replace their MFTs with a user fee that taxes actual use of the system, as with a per-mile road usage charge. Drivers already pay per mile under the current MFT, but the rate just varies based on the vehicle’s fuel economy. For replacing the Illinois MFT, charging 2 cents per mile and indexing it to an inflationary measure would provide a sufficient, stable revenue source. Any change should be accompanied by testing and analysis to ensure that a road usage charge is implemented and invested fairly. This revenue source would benefit from a streamlined national solution that allows each state to collect mileage-based user fees from out-of-state drivers. In implementing a new revenue source, the state should also take the opportunity to lower the burden on lower income drivers by integrating measures not available in the current MFT structure. This strategy also appears in the Mobility chapter under the recommendation to Fully fund the region’s transportation system. Action 1 Increase the MFT by at least 15 cents per gallon and index the overall rate to an inflationary measure. Implementers The State of Illinois Action 2 Begin necessary steps, including implementing pilot projects, to replace the MFT with a road usage charge of at least 2 cents per mile indexed to an inflationary measure. Implementers The State of Illinois Action 3 Increase the federal gas tax rate, index it to an inflationary measure, and in the long term replace it with a per-mile road usage charge. Implementers The federal government Action 4 Work with states to develop a national solution to implementing road usage charges at the state level. Implementers The federal government