DOI: 10.5061/dryad.rv15dv4f0
title: National mileage fee survey

description: As governing bodies continue to explore mileage fees as an alternative to
 the gas tax, of the uncertainty surrounding public support remains a
 critical barrier to policy uptake. This study examines the extent to which
 public perceptions of mileage fees are guided by misinformation or lack of
 information using a national, internet-based survey. We use hypothetical
 voting opportunities to gather respondent support for mileage fees,
 coupled with educational treatments that address mileage fee fairness,
 privacy, and costs. The findings indicate that respondents are largely
 misinformed or lack information about mileage fees and the gas tax.
 Pre-education, only 32% of respondents supported the policy, but
 post-education, 46% of respondents supported the policy. Through binomial,
 multinomial, and fixed effect modeling, we examined the factors associated
 with policy support, changes in policy support, and the educational
 treatments. Ultimately, our findings indicate that education can play a
 key role in increasing support for a mileage fee policy as an alternative
 to the gas tax. 
description: An internet-based survey was used to assess nation-wide support
 for replacing state gas taxes with a mileage fee. Respondents were given
 three opportunities to vote for or against a mileage fee replacement, with
 educational treatments in between votes. The impact of education on
 respondent voting was evaluated using a variety of regression modelling
 methods. Respondents were recruited to the survey
 through Qualtrics. This company used quota-based sampling schemes to field
 the survey to every U.S. state. Since this research hypothesized that
 mileage fee opinions may be in part due to low information about mileage
 fees, we opted to omit respondents from states where widespread mileage
 fee education or mileage fee policies were implemented. As of July 2023,
 we identified California, Oregon, Utah and Hawaii as states where
 residents were likely meaningfully more educated about mileage fees and
 chose not to survey those populations. Three versions
 of the survey were released, each proposing mileage fees are collected
 using a different method. The three options proposed collecting mileage
 fees using (1) an annual odometer reading, (2) a plug-in device without
 GPS technology, and (3) a plug-in device with GPS technology. Besides
 differing in the method displayed for collecting mileage information, the
 surveys were identical.
description: National Mileage Fee Survey Metadata
 University of Vermont Transportation
 Research Center Metadata Producer :
 Clare Nelson, University of Vermont
 
 Date : October 2023 
 
 ## Table of Contents 1. [Overview](#overview) 2. [Producers and
 Sponsers](#producers-and-sponsers) 3. [Data Collection](#data-collection)
 4. [Variables List](#variables-list) 5. [Variables
 Description](#variables-description) 
 
 ## Overview In the United States, transportation fuel excise taxes
 commonly referred to as the “gas tax” provide a large share of funding to
 state agencies for transportation maintenance and construction projects.
 The revenue generating capacity of the gas tax is threatened by increasing
 vehicle fuel efficiency, electric vehicles adoption and inflation.
 Alternative funding schemes are necessary, but public acceptance of tax
 changes is low. We surveyed residents of Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire
 to gauge understanding of and support for a mileage-based user fee and a
 flat fee as potential replacements for the current gas tax and the
 potential to modify support through education. Throughout the survey,
 respondents were provided information and learning opportunities to “myth
 bust” common misconceptions about the gas tax and the potential policy
 alternatives. We find that, before education, respondents knew very little
 about how the current gas tax works and showed minimal support for the
 proposed policy alternatives. Post education, support for mileage-based
 user fees increased by 11%. Using regression modelling, we determined that
 respondent attitudes and beliefs, travel behavior, community type, and
 personalized cost estimates were all highly significant predictors of
 policy support. Overall, we find responding to common public concerns with
 up-to-date and non-biased information within a relatively simple learning
 experience can cause substantial changes in policy support. Our findings
 offer an avenue to understand how support for gas tax alternatives varies
 amongst different groups of people and the role that education can play in
 increasing policy support in the face of widespread misconceptions. 
 
 ## Producers and Sponsers * **Primary Investigator(s)**: Rowangould,
 Gregory, University of Vermont Treansportation Research Center
 
 * **Other Producer(s)**: University of Vermont (UVM), National Center for
 Sustainable Transportation (NCST) * **Funding Agency/ies**: US Department
 of Transportation (USDOT) 
 
 ## Data Collection * **Data Collection Mode**: Online Survey 
 
 * **Sampling Procedure**: Participants were recruited using a Qualtrics
 panel to get a representative sample from across the United States. 
 
 * **Valid Samples**: 2,114 
 
 
 ## Variables List Dataset contains 71 variables, split into 10 categories
 as shown below. | # | Name | Response Type | Variable Count | | -- |
 ---------------------------------- | --------------------- |
 -------------- | | 1 | [General](#general) | Categorical | 2 | | 2 |
 [Attitudes](#attitudes) | Likert Scale | 15 | | 3 | [Factor
 Analysis](#factoranalysis) | Numerical | 3 | | 4 | [Votes](#votes) |
 Binary | 3 | | 5 | [Fairness](#fairness) | Categorical | 12 | | 6 |
 [Vehicle](#vehicle) | Categorical | 6 | | 7 | [Cost](#cost) | Numerical |
 2 | | 8 | [Reflections](#reflections) | Likert | 16 | | 9 |
 [Demographics](#demographics) | Categorical | 12 | | 10 |
 [Comments](#comments) | Open Response Textbox | 1 | 
 
 --- ## Variables Description --- ### General `SurveyOption`: There were
 three versions of the survey, each identical except for the way the voting
 opporutunities proposed collecting the mileage information. This column
 indicates which type of mileage collection option was presented to the
 respondent. 
 
 | Options | Full Description | | ---------------- |
 ---------------------------- | | Odometer | Annual odometer readings | |
 Plug In (no gps) | A plug-in device without GPS | | Plug In (gps) | A
 plug-in device with GPS | `MileageFeePilot`: This survey will ask about
 mileage fees. They are sometimes called mileage-based user fees (MBUFs),
 vehicle miles travelled (VMT) fees and road-user charges (RUCs). Have you
 previously participated in any pilot programs or focus groups related to
 this type of fee? 
 
 **Response Type** Categorical 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Yes | 0 | | No | 2114 | ###
 Attitudes **Question** = State your level of agreement with the following
 statements. Providing this information helps ensure our research gets
 input from a broad range of viewpoints.
 
 **Response Type** = Likert Scale 
 
 
 `Attitude1`: Taxes are an irreplaceable form of funding for state and
 federal programs.
 
 `Attitude2`: Sometimes the government needs to pass laws to help protect
 vulnerable populations.
 
 `Attitude3`: I trust my state government.
 
 `Attitude4`: I would prefer less government involvement in my life.
 
 `Attitude5`: Funding for state programs is mismanaged.
 
 `Attitude6`: Environmental threats such as global warming and
 deforestation have been exaggerated.
 
 `Attitude7`: I frequently think about whether my travel choices have an
 impact on the environment.
 
 `Attitude8`: Vehicle emissions in my state have a large impact on air
 quality.
 
 `Attitude9`: I frequently think about how my choices will impact my
 community.
 
 `Attitude10`: Driving a car is good for society.
 
 `Attitude11`: My lifestyle is dependent on having a car.
 
 `Attitude12`: Owning a vehicle provides me with freedom.
 
 `Attitude13`: Technology does more harm than good.
 
 `Attitude14`: I'm tracked everywhere I go through my phone.
 
 `Attitude15`: Technology has made life too complicated.
 
 | Responses | | ----------------- | | Strongly disagree | | Somewhat
 disagree | | Neutral | | Somewhat agree | | Strongly agree | 
 
 --- ### FactorAnalysis `Trust_in_Gov`: Factor score created using
 principal axis factor analysis with 3 factors. 
 
 `Distrust_Science_Tech`: Factor score created using principal axis factor
 analysis with 3 factors. 
 
 `Pref_for_Autonomy`: Factor score created using principal axis factor
 analysis with 3 factors. 
 
 --- ### Votes `V1_vote`: Do you support replacing the gas tax with a
 mileage fee collected using (randomly selected: an annual odometer
 reading; a plug-in device without GPS; a plug-in device with GPS)? 
 
 **Response Type** = Binary 
 
 | Responses | Count | Recode Value | | --------- | ----- | ------------ |
 | Yes | 646 | 1 | | No | 1468 | 0 | 
 
 `V2_vote`: Do you support replacing the gas tax with a mileage fee
 collected using (randomly selected: an annual odometer reading; a plug-in
 device without GPS; a plug-in device with GPS)? 
 
 **Response Type** = Binary 
 
 
 | Responses | Count | Recode Value | | --------- | ----- | ------------ |
 | Yes | 1055 | 1 | | No | 1059 | 0 | 
 
 `V3_vote`: Do you support replacing the gas tax with a mileage fee
 collected using (randomly selected: an annual odometer reading; a plug-in
 device without GPS; a plug-in device with GPS)? 
 
 **Response Type** = Binary 
 
 
 | Responses | Count | Recode Value | | ---------------- | ----- |
 ------------ | | Yes | 875 | 1 | | No | 1089 | 0 | | Skipped Question |
 150 | NA | 
 
 --- ### Fairness (Prior to the educational videos) How do you feel about
 the following statements? A mileage fee would be fair to...
 `Fair_EV_Before`: Electric vehicle owner 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 1025 | | Disagree |
 492 | | Neutral | 597 | 
 
 `Fair_Rural_Before`: People living in rural areas 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 554 | | Disagree |
 941 | | Neutral | 619 | 
 
 `Fair_Urban_Before`: People living in urban areas 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 989 | | Disagree |
 445 | | Neutral | 680 | 
 
 `Fair_LowIncome_Before`: Households with low incomes 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 538 | | Disagree |
 928 | | Neutral | 648 | 
 
 `Fair_HighIncome_Before`: Households with high incomes 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 1017 | | Disagree |
 408 | | Neutral | 689 | 
 
 `Fair_DriveLots_Before`: People with jobs that require lots of driving 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 653 | | Disagree |
 975 | | Neutral | 486 | 
 
 `Fair_Me_Before`: Myself, personally 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 705 | | Disagree |
 653 | | Neutral | 756 | 
 
 Considering what you've learned, please share your response to the
 following statement. You may change your mind or maintain your same
 beliefs. A mileage fee would be fair to... 
 
 `Fair_EV_After`: Electric vehicle owner 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 1179 | | Disagree |
 399 | | Neutral | 536 | 
 
 `Fair_Rural_After`: People living in rural areas 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 1112 | | Disagree |
 508 | | Neutral | 494 | 
 
 `Fair_Urban_After`: People living in urban areas 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 1056 | | Disagree |
 396 | | Neutral | 662 | 
 
 `Fair_LowIncome_After`: Households with low incomes 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 1118 | | Disagree |
 550 | | Neutral | 446 | 
 
 `Fair_HighIncome_After`: Households with high incomes 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 1095 | | Disagree |
 379 | | Neutral | 640 | 
 
 `Fair_DriveLots_After`: People with jobs that require lots of driving 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 786 | | Disagree |
 780 | | Neutral | 548 | 
 
 `Fair_Me_After`: Myself, personally 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Agree | 860 | | Disagree |
 501 | | Neutral | 753 | 
 
 --- ### Vehicle `VehCount`: How many vehicles are owned, leased, or
 available for regular use by the people who currently live in your
 household? 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 
 | Responses | Count | | ------------ | ----- | | No Vehicles | 150 | | 1
 Vehicle | 858 | | 2 Vehicles | 769 | | 3 Vehicles | 229 | | 4 Vehicles |
 73 | | 5 Vehicles | 20 | | 6 Vehicles | 10 | | Other Amount | 5 | 
 
 `VehType`: What is your primary vehicle? 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 
 | Responses | Count | | ----------------------------------------- | -----
 | | Small car (Sedan/Hatchback/Station Wagon) | 761 | | SUV | 784 | |
 Pick-Up Truck | 185 | | Minivan/Van | 92 | | Sports Car | 73 | | Other |
 69 | 
 
 `VehFuel`: What type of fuel does your primary vehicle use? 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 
 | Responses | Count | | ----------------------------- | ----- | |
 Gasoline | 1760 | | Diesel | 53 | | Gasoline Hybrid (not plug-in) | 94 | |
 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) | 29 | | Fully Electric (BEV) | 24 | | Other | 4 | 
 
 `FuelEcon_cat`: To the best of your knowledge, what's is the fuel
 economy (miles per gallon) of your primary vehicle? 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 **Logic** = Directed to this question if fuel economy is known 
 
 | Responses | Count | Recoded Value | | ----------- | ----- |
 ------------- | | 5 - 10 mpg | 52 | 7.5 mpg | | 11 - 15 mpg | 169 | 13 mpg
 | | 16 - 20 mpg | 374 | 18 mpg | | 21 - 25 mpg | 524 | 23 mpg | | 26 - 30
 mpg | 396 | 28 mpg | | 31 - 35 mpg | 212 | 33 mpg | | 36 - 40 mpg | 117 |
 38 mpg | | 41 - 45 mpg | 47 | 43 mpg | | 46 - 50 mpg | 23 | 48 mpg | | 51+
 mpg | 26 | 55 mpg | 
 
 `PerElectric`: To the best of your knowledge, what percentage of your
 driving is all-electric? 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 **Logic** = Directed to this question if primary vehicle is a Plug-in
 Hybrid (PHEV)
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | 10% | 2 | | 20% | 2 | | 30%
 | 2 | | 40% | 6 | | 50% | 5 | | 60% | 5 | | 70% | 3 | | 80% | 3 | | 90% |
 1 | | 100% | 0 | 
 
 `VMT`: To the best of your knowledge, how far did you travel in your
 primary vehicle in the past year? 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 | Responses | Count | Recoded Value | | ------------------- | ----- |
 ------------- | | Less than 1,000 mi | 207 | 500 mi | | 1,000 - 5,000 mi |
 434 | 3,000 mi | | 5,000 - 10,000 mi | 503 | 7,5000 mi | | 10,000 - 15,000
 mi | 418 | 12,500 mi | | 15,000 - 20,000 mi | 191 | 17,500 mi | | 20,000 -
 25,000 mi | 111 | 22,500 mi | | 25,000 - 30,000 mi | 59 | 27,500 mi | |
 More than 30,000 mi | 41 | 40,000 mi | 
 
 --- ### Cost `Cost_GasTax`: 
 
 **Response Type** = NA, *Calculated Value*
 
 **Formula** = 
 
 * *All Vehicles, besides Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)* = $(Tax) (VMT) / (Fuel
 Economy)$ 
 
 * *Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)* = $(Tax) (VMT)(100 - Percent Electric) / (Fuel
 Economy)$ 
 
 | Min | 1st Qu. | Median | Mean | 3rd Qu. | Max | NA's (No Primary
 Vehicle) | | --- | ------- | ------ | ----- | ------- | ------- |
 ------------------------- | | 0.0 | 62.0 | 129.2 | 239.6 | 184.2 | 22419.6
 | 150 | 
 
 `Cost_Mileage`: 
 
 **Response Type** = NA, *Calculated Value*
 
 **Formula** = $(Tax) (VMT) $ 
 
 
 | Min | 1st Qu. | Median | Mean | 3rd Qu. | Max | NA's (No Primary
 Vehicle) | | ---- | ------- | ------ | ----- | ------- | ----- |
 ------------------------- | | 37.5 | 112.5 | 155.1 | 155.1 | 187.5 | 600.0
 | 150 | --- ### Reflections **Question** = You've just finished
 voting on a new proposal for a mileage fee in your state. You've been
 given a variety of information. Think back on how you voted. How important
 were the following pieces of information in your final vote for or against
 a mileage fee to replace the gas tax? 
 
 **Response Type** = Likert Scale 
 
 
 `I_PersonalCost`: Learning how much a mileage fee would cost me compared
 to my current gas tax spending 
 
 `I_LowIncome`: Learning lower income households would, generally, not pay
 more than higher income households 
 
 `I_Rural`: Learning people living in rural areas would, generally, not
 pay more than people living in urban areas 
 
 `I_History`: Learning about the history of the gas tax and what it is
 used for 
 
 `I_States`: Learning states are already exploring mileage fees 
 
 `I_Federal`: Learning the federal government is already exploring mileage
 fees 
 
 | Responses | | -------------------- | | Not at all important | |
 Moderately important | | Very important | 
 
 **Question** = The mileage fee in this survey assumed everyone pays the
 same fee per mile they travel. Some people want to adjust the mileage fee
 for different drivers. How do the following rate-adjustments change your
 level of support for a mileage fee? 
 
 **Response Type** = Likert Scale 
 
 
 `Rate_LowIncome`: Households with lower incomes pay lower mileage fees. 
 
 `Rate_Pollute`: Mileage fees are higher for vehicles that pollute more
 and lower for vehicles that pollute less. 
 
 `Rate_LowEV`: Mileage fees are lower for electric vehicles. 
 
 `Rate_Block`: Everyone gets a "free" number of miles every year
 before they start getting charged for the miles they travel. 
 
 | Responses | | ---------------- | | Decrease support | | Neutral | |
 Increase support | **Question** = How do the following ways to collect
 mileage information change your level of support for a mileage fee? 
 
 **Response Type** = Likert Scale 
 
 
 For those who took the survey where mileage is collected using annual
 odometer readings... 
 
 `Odo_PlugIn`: Plug-in device without GPS `Odo_PlugInGPS`: Plug-in device
 with GPS 
 
 For those who took the survey where mileage is collected using plug-in
 devices without GPS... 
 
 `PlugIn_Odo`: Odometer readings (from your vehicle dashboard)
 `PlugIn_PlugInGPS`: Plug-in device with GPS 
 
 For those who took the survey where mileage is collected using plug-in
 devices with GPS... 
 
 `PlugInGPS_Odo`: Odometer readings (from your vehicle dashboard)
 `PlugInGPS_PlugIn`: Plug-in device without GPS 
 
 | Responses | | ---------------- | | Decrease support | | Neutral | |
 Increase support | --- ### Demographics `Age_cat`: In what year were you
 born? 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 | Responses | Count | | ----------------- | ----- | | 18 - 30 years old |
 | | 31 - 64 years old | | | 65+ years old | | `Gender`: Please state your
 gender. 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Female | 1136 | | Male |
 959 | `Education`: What is the highest level of school you have completed
 or the highest degree you have received? 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 | Responses | Count | | ---------------- | ----- | | Some high school |
 496 | | Some college | 467 | | College degree | 1139 | 
 
 `Ethnicity`: Are you Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino or none of these? 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 | Responses | Count | | --------- | ----- | | Yes | 398 | | No | 1716 |
 `Race`: What is your race? (Mark all that apply) 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical (Check boxes) 
 
 **Formula** = *If multiple responses were chosen (i.e., two or more
 races), response was categorized as "Other race" | Responses |
 Recode | | ----------------------------------------- | ---------- | |
 White | White | | Black or African American | Black | | American Indian or
 Alaska Native | Other race | | Asian or Asian American | Asian | | Native
 Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | Other race | | Other, please specify
 | Other race | `Children`: How many children (under 18) live in your
 household? 
 
 **Response Type** = Open Ended 
 
 | Responses | Count | | ------------------ | ----- | | No children | 1401
 | | 1 to 2 children | 583 | | 3 or more children | 130 | `HouseholdSize`:
 How many adults (18 or over) live in your household, including yourself? 
 
 **Response Type** = Open Ended 
 
 | Responses | Count | | -------------------- | ----- | | Live alone | 476
 | | Two people | 1178 | | Three or more people | 460 | `Employment`: What
 is your current employment status? 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 | Responses | Count | | ---------- | ----- | | Employed | 1276 | |
 Retired | 478 | | Unemployed | 348 | `Income`: Please state your yearly
 household income. 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 | Responses | Count | | ------------------- | ---------- | | Less than
 $50,000 | 763 | | $50,000 to $100,000 | 745 | | More than $100,000 | 606 
 
 | `Region`: 
 
 **Response Type** = NA, *Calculated Value*
 
 **Formula** = *Derived from self-reported state of residence* | Region |
 Count | | --------- | ----- | | Northeast | 327 | | South | 1068 | |
 Midwest | 496 | | West | 223 | `CommunityType`: 
 
 **Response Type** = NA, *Calculated Value*
 
 **Formula** = *Aggregated RUCA Code* | Responses | Count | | --------- |
 ----- | | Rural | 459 | | Suburban | 1066 | | Urban | 589 | `Politics`: In
 politics today, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or
 Independent? 
 
 **Response Type** = Categorical 
 
 **Logic** = *If response was "Independent" or "Some other
 party", respondent was asked "As of today, do you lean more to
 the Republican Party or more to the Democratic Party?" **Formula** =
 Full alignment with Republican or Democrat or leaning towards Republican
 or Democrat were considered "Republican" or
 "Democrat". Identifying as independent or some other party and
 leaning towards neither Republican or Democrat were considered "Other
 party". | Responses | Count | | ----------- | ----- | | Republican |
 772 | | Democrat | 963 | | Other party | 367 | --- ### Comments
 `Comments`: Are there any other comments or feedback you'd like to
 provide regarding your support or opposition for a mileage fee?
 
 **Response Type** = Open Ended
 
 | Responses | Count | | ---------- | ----- | | Comment | 1285 | | No
 Comment | 829 |