Midwest Road Usage Charge (RUC) Study

Funding the Future of Kansas Transportation

As the market for fuel-efficient vehicles and electric vehicles grows, KDOT is proactively studying how funding for Kansas transportation can be maintained for the future. Today, Kansas state roads and bridges are funded primarily by motor fuel tax (also called gas tax) revenues. With Kansans driving more fuel-efficient and alternative fuel vehicles, people are purchasing less fuel, resulting in less money from motor fuel taxes dedicated to maintaining the Kansas transportation system. This shift impacts how Kansas gets its funding for transportation.

To address this challenge, Kansas is proactively exploring whether a road usage charge (RUC) might be a sustainable, long-term funding source in our state.

About the Kansas Midwest RUC Study

Kansas roads take us to and from our jobs, deliver important goods in and out of the state, and connect us with our family and friends. Our state – and the nation – depend on Kansas roads.

What is a road usage charge (RUC)?

A road usage charge, or RUC, is a system to pay for roads, bridges, and infrastructure by the mile rather than the gallon. As of 2024, four states have adopted road usage charge systems: Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Hawaii, and many more are studying it.

In addition to Kansas, other Midwest states studying some form of alternative transportation revenue include Minnesota, Ohio, and Oklahoma.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is leading the Kansas Midwest RUC pilot in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Why is Kansas studying RUC?

Today, cars and trucks pay 24¢ per gallon of gasoline and 26¢ cents per gallon of diesel fuel taxes. Many of the cars and trucks on our roads today don’t use as much gas as they used to, and more and more cars and trucks run on alternative fuels, are hybrid-electric or fully electric.

As more vehicles transition to being more fuel efficient or not using gas or diesel at all – we anticipate our state may fall short. We are planning ahead to see if this type of system might work in Kansas and the Midwest as a replacement to the current fuel tax system.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is proactively exploring whether a road usage charge might be a sustainable, long-term funding source in our state. KDOT is utilizing federal grant money available to states to study potential alternative approaches to transportation funding. To-date, most states exploring RUC are on the East and West coasts — Kansas is adding a Midwest perspective to this national conversation.