Facing ‘decaying infrastructure,’ transportation committee moves toward hiking gas tax

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State lawmakers took the first steps this afternoon to asking voters to hike what they pay every time they fill up their cars and trucks.

On a 7-1 margin the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved a measure to place a dime-a-gallon hike in the state’s gasoline tax on the 2018 ballot. If approved, it would be the first hike in the current 18 cent tax since 1991.

HCR 2011 would also impose a similar increase on the 26-cent tax paid by heavy duty diesel trucks.

Mike Racy, who lobbies for everyone from Pima County to Tucson-based developer Diamond Ventures, told lawmakers the situation is critical.

“The decaying infrastructure around the state, especially outside of Maricopa County, has reached crisis proportions,” he said.

Tony Bradley, president of the Arizona Trucking Association, estimated that his members lose more than $500 million a year in this state alone in congestion delays. And that’s just part of the problem caused by roads in poor quality.

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Corrie O'Connor