Matt Jeanneret, an ARTBA spokesman, said, “At a time when lawmakers have been struggling to find long-term solutions to finance urgent U.S. infrastructure needs, this kind of cut in highway trust fund revenues could put the transportation program in jeopardy.”

But according to DOT and EPA, the new final rule’s average annual mpg increase would be lower than 5%. They say the annual hike in standard for cars would be 3.8% to 3.9% from 2017 through 2021 and 4.7% from 2022 through 2025.

The agencies say increases for light trucks would average 2.5% to 2.7% from 2017 through 2021 and 4.8% to 4.9% from 2022 through 2025.

Still, increases in that range would cost the trust fund billions of dollars of lost trust revenue.

Brian Turmail, a spokesman for the Associated General Contractors of America, said, “What we need is either the political courage to raise fuel taxes to compensate for the additional [fuel] efficiencies or to embrace the kind of alternative revenue streams…that aren’t at odds with our energy policy.” One example, he said, would be a tax on vehicle miles traveled. 

Turmail said, “Unfortunately, this administration has been as quick to shoot down efforts to increase the fuel tax or embrace alternative funding methods as it has been vocal in its support for infrastructure funding.  What we need now is the same kind of leadership from the president on addressing our transportation funding challenges as he has shown in pushing for stricter fuel economy standards.”