The HiRUC Final Report is Available
Community input formed the recommendations in the August 2022 HiRUC Final Report.
MAHALO to all participants!
Key Findings from the HiRUC Final Report
Hawaii drivers have a high level of understanding and high initial acceptance of road usage charging, with more support than opposition.
Support for RUC grew when:
…Funds are dedicated to maintenance and improvement of roads and bridges.
….Rental cars are charged a higher rate than residents.
….A RUC program that starts gradually, with an initial RUC for electric vehicles only.
….Hawaii residents participated in the pilot project, the Technology Test Drive, where participants reported the miles they drove and provided feedback on the experience. A majority of participants recommended moving forward with a road usage charge program.
A significant majority of drivers prefer to report miles at their annual vehicle inspection.
About half of drivers prefer to pay a road usage charge in quarterly or monthly installments.
What’s New in 2023?
HDOT recommends implementing a road usage charge on electric vehicles (EV)
- The Road usage charge fee would replace the existing flat fee of $50/ year EV owners now pay.
This is based on a per mile rate equal to what the average gas vehicle pays ($0.008 per mile, less than a penny). HDOT also recommends a cap on what EVs would pay per year in RUC, equivalent to what an average gas vehicle pays in state gas taxes per year.
- The fee would be assessed using the state’s existing vehicle inspection program for mileage collection and data collection, creating a seamless experience for residents and minimizing cost to HDOT.
- Using federal funds for up to 70 to 80 percent of the cost, HDOT will continue to work with stakeholders, partner agencies and the public
for further development and improvement
of systems for collecting the RUC.
Pending RUC Bills in the 2023 Hawai‘i Legislature
What is HiRUC?
To prepare for a more resilient future, Hawaii and many other states are looking for a fair, fiscally reliable, and sustainable, way to pay for the safety, upkeep, and improvement of roads and bridges. The current method, the gas tax, is no longer a reliable source of funding as more environmentally friendly fuel-efficient cars and trucks and electric and hybrid vehicles populate our roads.
As a result of a three-year community outreach, feedback, and research project, Hawaii’s Department of Transportation (HDOT) is proposing a gradual transition to a road usage charge (RUC), which is based on paying for the miles you drive.
Given the fast pace of EV and hybrid vehicle adoption in Hawaii, HDOT recommends moving forward with a minimally disruptive transition to road usage charging for EVs without delay.
