The President's Page in the May/June issue of VIA asked for your thoughts about our overworked and increasingly impoverished roadways. More than 400 of you responded by completing our online survey on transportation funding.

Like the nation as a whole, you were divided on many of the issues. But 81 percent of you favor having state and local governments identify new ways to finance regional transportation projects that make them less dependent on federal funding. And 86 percent of you support increasing the federal gas tax (currently 18.4 cents a gallon) if the revenues are used to fund road building or repair, public transit, the reduction of carbon emissions, or other transportation improvements. For the complete results of the survey, visit AAA.com/betterroads.

Many of you also took the time to write to me about the issues. "Congress should raise the gas tax," says Byron Buck of Carmichael, Calif. "It is still the most e˜cient user fee available. It also gives an incentive to drive more fuel-efficient cars. Improving our roads will be good for the economy and everyone's bottom line." Others spoke out on behalf of a mileage-based fee. "Payment for road repairs should be based on two components," writes Terri Cook of Belmont, Calif., "miles driven and vehicle weight. My Mustang shouldn't be assessed the same as my neighbor's Hummer."

Darryl Rich of Roseville, Calif., proposes tolls on all interstate highways. "I lived in Illinois and the toll roads around Chicago were always in better shape than the 'free' interstate roads," he reports. Robert Fisher of Sonora, Calif., suggests that we begin "charging the oil companies a windfall-profits tax."

I encourage you to vote this November and to pay attention to what your candidates—for all offices—say about transportation issues. In return, I promise that AAA will work to make transportation a priority when the new president and Congress take office in January. We will continue to push for creative, cost-effective solutions and a sustainable system paved with accountability.