Caltrans and Western consortium outline research options; TAC asked to prioritize by June

Caltrans staff updated the Road Charge Technical Advisory Committee on existing and proposed research and asked committee members to identify additional priorities by June so researchers can deliver findings in time to inform pilot design.

Norma Ortega of Caltrans provided an overview of research Caltrans is conducting or planning, including studies on correlations between household income and vehicle fuel economy, public attitudes toward federal transportation funding and effectiveness of incentives for alternative‑fuel vehicle ownership. Ortega said those projects have staggered timelines, with some deliverables expected within the calendar year.

Ortega also summarized research underway through the Western Road Usage Charge Consortium, a 12‑state collaboration that has studies examining Oregon’s program, methods for addressing out‑of‑state drivers, web‑based road‑charge calculators, rural impacts and a roadmap for state consideration of road charges. Committee members asked staff to make finished reports available to the TAC as they are completed.

Caltrans offered a list of research ideas it could pursue: public sentiment among electric and hybrid vehicle owners about paying for roads; equity comparisons of different road‑charge concepts; estimating the household share of gas taxes by income; data encryption to protect personally identifiable information in mileage messages; and impacts of growing telematics and connected vehicles. Gary Finegan (Caltrans staff) said some of those topics could be delivered by September, depending on depth and departmental resources.

Committee members and staff debated scope and timing. "If there are additional items that the TAC would like us to explore, we would need to know by June," said a Caltrans staff member, noting internal review and resource allocation would follow any formal TAC direction. Committee members urged Caltrans to circulate results from the Western consortium and Oregon’s pilot as soon as they are available.

Members highlighted specific research needs: targeted polling/focus groups across urban and rural California, equity analysis comparing existing motorist fees (gas tax, registration fees, tolls) with road charges, and an analysis of encryption/privacy requirements for technology solutions. Marty (committee member) noted a separate university study on synthesizing attitudes toward road usage charges is scheduled for a July advisory presentation and recommended the TAC invite that researcher to present.

Caltrans asked the TAC to identify high‑priority research by June so the department could vet feasibility and timing. If the TAC does not propose additional priorities, staff said it will continue to compile and share results from consortium and department research for TAC review.