Sustainable transportation revenues: equitable, efficient, and transparent (STREET)

The Federal Highway Administration awarded $6.71 million to the Washington State Department of Transportation under the Highway Research and Development Program (CFDA 20.200) on September 22, 2025, for the Sustainable Transportation Revenues: Equitable, Efficient, and Transparent (STREET) project. The project, which extends through September 30, 2029, represents a multi-state research initiative bringing together six states (Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) to advance user-based revenue mechanisms for transportation funding. The deliverables include evaluation of best practices for Road Usage Charge (RUC) programs, Electric Vehicle (EV) registration surcharges, and EV charging tax models, with particular focus on data standardization, policy coordination, and implementation frameworks across participating states.

The project will produce recommendations and research outputs addressing critical capabilities for multistate coordination of user-based transportation revenues, including website development and technical resources to support implementation of alternative funding mechanisms. While the funding supports capital activities such as website development, the award explicitly restricts the scope to research, evaluation, and recommendations rather than permanent system implementation. This foundational work builds on earlier project phases and establishes a coordinated approach among states that have operational RUC programs or EV surcharges in place, facilitating knowledge transfer and best practice standardization across jurisdictions.

Project description

This project represents the most advanced research to date on user-based revenue mechanisms by bringing together six states: hawaii, montana, nevada, oregon, utah, and washington. Three of these states have operational road usage charge (RUC) programs and another state is on the cusp of enactment. Five of the states have electric vehicle (EV) registration surcharges. Two have EV charging taxes. Building on foundational policy and outreach from earlier phases, this project will advance critical capabilities and coordination for implementation of multistate user-based transportation revenues. This project will evaluate best practices for models, data, policy, and rates. Although IT uses capital funds for such activities as website development, IT will make recommendations but not actually implement a permanent system.