Usage Charge (HiRUC) demonstration
project, HDOT conducted 10 focus
groups to gauge the extent residents
understood (or misunderstood) the
implications of highway transportation
funding and the concept of RUC,
before carrying out an extensive
telephone survey with 1,500 callers to
back up the findings of those meetings.
Subsequently, an advisory group
comprising representatives of 17
specific interest groups likely to be
impacted by RUC was set up.
“The advisory group includes
representatives from the trucking
and tourism industry, legislature,
local government, clean energy
advocates – and the tax man. The
group’s role is to offer issues,
concerns, opinions and questions that
HDOT should address in its research
that may not have already been
considered”, explains Scott Uruda,
HiRUC project manager at HDOT.
“They also offer advice to us on
the policy and high-level concept
design choices to simulate RUC in
demonstrations, with the aim of
ensuring that the research achieves
maximum benefit and relevance for
policy makers.”
Posting reports
Then, towards the end of 2019 the
project entered the manual phase
whereby driving reports generated
by the HiRUC team are being sent to
registered owners of light duty trucks
and passenger vehicles in the post.
These reports make use of details
taken from the annual personal
motor vehicle inspection (known as
the safety check) required of all
vehicle owners on the island as well
as motor vehicle registration data.
The number of miles covered by
the driver between two yearly safety
checks is worked out and then based
on the driver’s miles per gallon rating
from the US Environmental
Protection Agency records a
comparison between their estimated
annual fuel tax bill and what a
possible RUC amount would be is
sent to the driver.
Initially a soft launch, HDOT
estimate that in full scale mode the
mailing volume of reports will be
between 40-50,000 a month over a 12
month period with each recipient
encouraged to provide feedback in
the form of a questionnaire.
The next stage of the project,
beginning this year will see 2,000
volunteers recruited to provide more
regular mileage updates by means of
one of three methods: 1) On board
diagnostic (OBD) GPS tracking; 2)
non-GPS OBD or 3) manual photo
uploads of odometer
readings. Throughout this
phase of HiRUC, HDOT will
continue to seek feedback
from a varied cross section
of Hawaiian residents.
By involving as
many people from as
diverse backgrounds as
Hawaii has, a number of
things have become
apparent to the DOT.
First of all, lack
of knowledge
about highway
funding is pervasive,
many people do not
know how much
fuel tax they pay or
that they even
paid any, while
misconceptions
around RUC
enforcement and
fears about extra
tax abound.
2,000 The number of volunteers
Hawaii DOT is looking
to recruit for its
RUC pilot
“We feel that public outreach
and engagement is one of the most
important parts of this project,”
explains Uruda. “It is so important
to build an awareness of
transportation funding – its
challenges, both current and long
term – and to have a dialogue
about the RUC concept.
“But we want to be clear,
HDOT is not advocating for an
RUC. What we want is for the
public to get onboard with
understanding why it is being
considered and how it might work
in practice.”
Such is the commitment to the
correct process that even after the
best part of two years of groundwork,
Uruda will not be drawn on what he
envisages the RUC they ultimately
roll out will be like.
If nothing else, HDOT cannot be
accused of rushing the process.
However, by taking their time,
engaging a varied cross section and
tailoring the RUC based on feedback
received, they are giving the system
they end up with every chance of
succeeding.
An OBU can track
miles travelled
(above) or an app
can be used to
photograph odometer
readings (below)
Road User Charging |
048 Traffic Technology International January/February 2020
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