Oregon Public Broadcasting

Congressman Earl Blumenauer introduced a bill Thursday proposing the federal government experiment with a new way of tracking highway use. April Baer reports.

Congress is under pressure to come up with a replacement for the federal gasoline tax. It's scheduled to end this August, leaving behind a multi-billion dollar shortfall for road repair and construction projects.

Blumenauer wants Congress to try a demonstration project, like one that Oregon tried in 2005.

Jill Pearson at the state Department  of Transportation recruited volunteers, and their cars were fitted with equipment that tracked how many miles they drove.

Jill Pearson: "We required them to go twice a month to one of two gas stations. When they drive up, their mileage would be downloaded. The beauty of the study was that the mileage fee was collected at the pump just like the gas tax."

The method is meant to demonstrate how drivers could pay to use roads. Pearson says the technology needs more testing, but she thinks the project has potential to be broadened.