An American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released Wednesday the results of a study regarding toll revenue collection and distribution.
The effort, which involved collecting public financial data from Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFR) published by toll systems, attempted to standardize financial comparisons across systems, with key metrics including toll facility charges by user type, toll facility expenditures, and toll revenue diversion to non-toll entities.
The ATRI findings maintain 21 major toll systems analyzed collected more than $14.7 billion in revenue, with nearly 50 percent of toll revenue diverted to other uses. Additionally, toll revenue increased more than 72 percent over the last decade compared to inflation growth of just 16.9 percent.
“It is clear from this research highway funding mechanisms that return our tax investments to highways are far superior to tolling,” Darren Hawkins, YRC Worldwide CEO, said. “We need greater oversight and transparency to ensure that the billions of dollars paid by our industry goes back into the roads and bridges that generate the revenue.”
Officials said ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501c3 not-for-profit research organization, engaging in research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.
The report can be accessed from ATRI’s website.