By Josh Mitchell Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The number of miles driven by Americans plunged by more than 4% in September compared to the same month last year, depriving a federal highway-construction fund of gasoline-tax revenues, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported Wednesday.
Americans drove 10.7 billion fewer miles in September, a 4.4% drop, marking the 11th consecutive month they have cut back on driving.
In the fiscal year ended September, the Highway Trust Fund, the government's primary source of financing for highway, bridge and transit projects, took in $31 billion - $3 billion less than it did the previous year - while federal transportation spending increased by $2 billion, the Transportation Department reported.
This fall, Congress passed emergency legislation to shore up the fund until next year.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters repeated her call for policymakers to develop a new way to raise revenue for the fund.
"Our current approach has us encouraging Americans to change their driving habits and burn less fuel while secretly hoping they drive more so we can finance new bridges, repair interstates and expand transit systems," Peters said in a statement.
-By Josh Mitchell, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-6637; joshua.mitchell@dowjones.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 19, 2008 17:49 ET (22:49 GMT)

Publié le 19 novembre 2008 Copyright © 2008 Dowjones