Motor fuel taxes have long been the primary source of both federal and state funds for U.S. highways. In recent decades, the sufficiency of fuel taxes has come into question as vehicles have gained in fuel efficiency and electric vehicles have become more common. As the time nears for the US Congress to re-authorize the surface transportation legislation which funds federal highway expenditures, it is timely to consider alternative sources of revenue, the most promising of which is mileage-based user fees. To help us understand this option, we’re talking with an expert on highway finance, Dr. Patricia Hendren, who is Executive Director of the Eastern Transportation Coalition. Trish earned her Ph.D in Transportation Technology and Policy and a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, both from UC Davis, and a B.A. in English from Duke University.