Paying for highways.(American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials wants higher gas taxes)

A new report from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials warns that the federal gas tax needs to be increased by at least 3 cents by 2010 and 7 cents more by 2015 just to maintain the current highway system. The 18.4 cents per gallon tax was last raised 14 years ago. The report says the growing shift toward tolls and private leases of roads will not be able to generate enough money to meet the nation's transportation needs.

* Highway Investment. In 2005, high-way capital investment was $75 billion, $33 billion or 45 percent of the total in federal assistance, and $42 billion from the state and local level.

Construction Costs. Between 1993 and 2015 highway and transit construction costs will have increased 70 percent.

Interstate Highways. The 47,000-mile Interstate Highway System contains only 1 percent of total U.S. highway miles, but carries 24 percent of all traffic and 41 percent of large truck traffic. Interstate vehicle miles traveled are expected to double from 690 billion in 2002 to 1.3 trillion 20 years from now.

* Tolls. In 2005, tolls generated $7.75 billion in receipts, which ...