“Green” taxes and fees: a politically acceptable way to increase transportation revenue?

This paper presents the results of a 2008 poll that asked 1,500 Californians if they would support “green” transportation taxes and fees. As explained to the survey respondents, green taxes and fees would be set at variable rates, with higher rates for more polluting vehicles and lower rates for those that pollute less. This approach to transportation taxes and fees adapts the traditional transportation finance system to achieve two critical public benefits at once: encouraging drivers to choose more sustainable travel options at the same time as raising revenue for needed transportation programs. The results show that the concept of green transportation taxes and fees strongly appeals to Californians. The survey tested this in two ways: by testing support for three hypothetical green transportation tax and fee policies, and also by comparing support levels for flat-rate versus green versions of two hypothetical fees. All three green taxes and fees tested had support levels at or above 50 per cent. In addition, the survey found that respondents greatly preferred green transportation taxes and fees to flat-rate versions. The survey data was analyzed to identify if any subgroups within the state population were particularly likely to support or oppose green transportation taxes and fees.