Frequently Asked Questions

General questions

  • Most drivers today help fund roads in Kansas through fuel taxes, paid per gallon at the pump. Fuel taxes are based on how many gallons of gas are purchased. A road usage charge (RUC) is a similar, usage-based fee that charges drivers per mile driven. A road usage charge can be a more sustainable funding source for roads, particularly as cars are becoming more fuel efficient and using less (or no) gas.

  • Today, Kansas state roads and bridges are funded primarily by motor fuel tax (also called gas tax) revenues. This is the 24 cents per gallon of gasoline or 26 cents per gallon of diesel we pay for at the pump. This is a protected revenue source, meaning it is dedicated to transportation and cannot be redirected to other needs. Learn more about transportation funding in Kansas today at our StoryMap.

  • The Kansas Department of Transportation is leading this federally-funded Midwest RUC Study in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

  • CDM Smith is leading the Kansas Midwest RUC Study in partnership with Burns & McDonnell.

    The following partners are supporting this pilot:

    • CDM Smith is managing pilot research and operations.

    • Burns & McDonnell is managing public engagement and communications including participant recruitment and customer support.

    • GeoToll is providing mileage collection technology and technical support for the pilot. Trinnex is supporting pilot operations and online tools.

Pilot program and enrollment

  • Recruitment for the Kansas Midwest RUC Pilot is now closed for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. Over 2,000 Kansans expressed an interest in volunteering for just over 500 available slots.

    We are still seeking professional, commercial drivers of medium-duty vehicles (10,000-26,000 pounds). These drivers can fill out this interest form.

    Kansas will begin enrolling drivers across the state in early April. This enrollment effort will focus on drivers of every day, light-duty cars and trucks, drivers of medium-duty trucks, and drivers of tractor trailers.

    1. Enrollment invitations will be sent starting in early April. If chosen for the pilot, follow the instructions in the enrollment email and choose how you'd prefer to report your miles driven. You can choose one of four mileage reporting options.

    2. Earn the first part of your incentive ($30)* by completing a short survey about enrollment and your initial thoughts on RUC.

    3. Drive as you normally do.

    4. Earn the second part of your incentive ($70)* by completing a short final survey about your pilot experience and your thoughts on RUC.

    5. Complete the pilot and receive your total thank you of up to $100 for completion (total amount eligible if both surveys are completed during the pilot).

    *Individuals working for or with the State of Kansas should check their eligibility for the incentive. Incentive open only to drivers in the state of Kansas.

  • The pilot lasts 3 months for light-duty vehicles like everyday cars and pickup trucks, and for medium-duty vehicles like delivery trucks.

    The pilot lasts 1 month for heavy-duty vehicles like tractor-trailers.

  • Volunteer participants can choose one of four options for reporting miles driven during the pilot:

    1. Online form: Volunteer participants enter odometer readings online.

    2. Image capture: Volunteer participants submit a photo of their odometer using a smartphone app provided by GeoToll*.

    3. Smartphone app: Volunteer participants use a smartphone app provided by GeoToll* to automatically record mileage using location.

    4. Direct vehicle (telematics): Volunteer participants share mileage and location automatically with GeoToll* through vehicle-enabled telematics for vehicles that have connected services. Please note that only certain vehicles model year 2022 and above are supported.

    *GeoToll is a private firm that provides mileage collection technology for this pilot.

  • No – participation is free. Those who are selected to participate will be eligible for up to $100 in an incentive for completing key participation milestones (individuals working for or with the State of Kansas should check their eligibility for the incentive.).

  • If selected to participate, pilot volunteers can earn up to $100 for completing the pilot.

    Participants will earn the first part of their incentive by completing a short survey about enrollment and their initial thoughts on RUC. They’ll earn the second portion of their incentive by completing a final survey about their pilot experience and thoughts on RUC.

    Participants will be emailed their incentive in the form of a Visa digital gift card (sent from a third-party vendor) approximately 1-2 weeks after completing the final survey.

    Note that individuals working for or with the State of Kansas should check their eligibility for the incentive.

  • To enroll and participate in the pilot, volunteer participants will provide the following information:

    • Email address (so participants can be reached to communicate instructions and distribute participant incentives)

    • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the participating vehicle

    For research purposes only, we will collect:

    • Type of vehicle to enroll in the pilot

    • Vehicle’s miles driven over the course of the pilot

    • Vehicle location information (if a participant chooses a location-based option)

    • Ownership status of vehicle (own/lease)

    • Primary use of vehicle (personal/business)

    • Occupation

    • Employment sector and status

    • County

    • Zip code

    • Demographic information like age, gender, race and/or ethnicity, household income

    We will not ask volunteer participants to provide the following:

    • Bank or credit card information

    • Social security number

    For information we do collect, we will use it for research purposes only. Once the study is done, we will destroy any personal identifying information.

  • The pilot research team led by CDM Smith will collect pilot data as follows:

    • CDM Smith will collect participant data and survey data.

    • Trinnex will also collect mileage data reported through the online form method.

    • Burns & McDonnell will access participant data to provide customer support.

    • GeoToll will collect vehicle mileage data for participants who have selected the smartphone app methods or direct vehicle method. This data may include location data.

    • Even if you choose a location-enabled information, no detailed location information (e.g., routes taken) will be provided by the research partners to KDOT, other participating states, or any third party.