The Hawaii Road Usage Charge Demonstration project, or HiRUC, is a three-year research project led by the HDOT that has drivers experience what it would be like to pay for roads through a per-mile RUC. HiRUC looks at a possible replacement of the existing 16 cent-per-gallon state fuel tax with an equivalent per-mile charge.
Each vehicle’s mileage will be calculated based on odometer readings collected during annual safety checks. Beginning in late 2019, vehicle owners will receive a driving report in the mail showing how many miles they drove in the past year, how much they may have paid in gas tax, and how much they might owe if the state were to collect a road usage charge instead of the gas tax. Since this is just a research and demonstration project, no one will owe any money.
The HDOT will also recruit volunteers who are willing to test other automated ways of collecting vehicle mileage, including plug-in vehicle mileage meters. Throughout the demonstration project, drivers will be asked what they preferred – and what would have to change – if the state were to adopt a RUC in the future. The results of the demonstration project, including direct feedback from drivers, will be shared with elected officials for consideration to solve Hawaii’s long term roadway funding challenges.