Eastern Railroad Discussion > Cost of railfaning to rise in these states...

Starting tomorrow if you drive a gas powered vehicle to get trackside these states will be raising their gas taxes :

Illinois goes up from 19 cents a gallon to 38 cents

Ohio goes up 10.5 cents per gallon

California goes up 5.6 cents to a total of 47.3 cents per gallon

South Carolina rises 2 cents 

Tennessee just a penny...

In Virginia all counties I 81 goes through and some close to I 81 will get  $0.07 more tax 

hollywood
NS B Line MP 74



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/19 07:01 by holiwood.

holiwood Wrote:
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> In Virginia all counties I 81 goes through and
> some close to I 81 will get  $0.07 more tax 
>
> hollywood
> NS B Line MP 74

Thanks for that info. Is the increased revenue going to be dedicated to I-81 Corridor improvements?

ts1457 Wrote:
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> holiwood Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > In Virginia all counties I 81 goes through and
> > some close to I 81 will get  $0.07 more tax 
> >
> > hollywood
> > NS B Line MP 74
>
> Thanks for that info. Is the increased revenue
> going to be dedicated to I-81 Corridor
> improvements?

That's what they said.  Shenandoah County gets about 4 miles of added 3rd lane, not much help here 
hollywood

While driving makes railfanning more convenient and increases the number of places one can railfan, it is not the only way to access railfanning locations.  I've railfanned in California, Illinois and Ohio by walking, bicycle and public transportation.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/19 17:28 by RuleG.

> South Carolina rises 2 cents 

Still lower than Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. If you're driving long-haul, try to buy gas in SC. In the southeast, only Mississippi and Alabama have less tax.

The taxes pay for the highways you drive on to railfan.  We've got a big infrastructure backlog in this country, and these increases may help reduce it.  Do you want  someone else to subsidize your hobby?

Virginia is cheaper than NC 

Gary



ctillnc Wrote:
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> > South Carolina rises 2 cents 
>
> Still lower than Florida, Georgia, North Carolina,
> Tennessee, and Kentucky. If you're driving
> long-haul, try to buy gas in SC. In the southeast,
> only Mississippi and Alabama have less tax.

When driving north, I try to fill up when entering and leaving SC. With a good tailwind, you can get to Fredericksburg VA. Usually the next cheap place for gas.

Posted from Android

Lack, the gas is cheaper at Ruther Glen, about 25 miles south of Fredericksburg, and somewhat easier on and off.

Rich in Richmond

RichM Wrote:
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> Lack, the gas is cheaper at Ruther Glen, about 25
> miles south of Fredericksburg, and somewhat easier
> on and off.
>
> Rich in Richmond

Thank you.  I'll look into that.   I usually have a (new) WaWa card, which gives me 25 cents a gallon off the first few months of use. After it goes stale, I conjure a new card (mine, my wife's etc) and use that for a while. Done that for quite a while.

There's a WaWa in Daytona, where I usually fill up. There's a WaWa right on the crazy exit in F'burg Va with 10 lanes of traffic.

(Cheap, cheap, cheap, my wife says...)

> Virginia is cheaper than NC

Yes, the only southeastern state with higher gas tax than NC is Florida. 

I am going to avoid using I81 and then deduct the extra gas tax from my state tax bill. If they try to disallow it...I'll say....well, I don't use that road, so I am not gonna pay for it!

I’m currently on the return leg of a coast to coast railfan trip with my son. 

Most expensive gas :  $5.59 a gallon at Big Sur CA.  

Cheapest:  $2.49 at a bunch of places in Nebraska. 

I live in Louisville, Ky. and gas prices around me are between $2.39 and 2.99.  Most are between $2.79 and $2.99.  About 40 miles south, in Elizabethtown, Ky., it's as low as $2.32.  In Jefferson County (Louisville area) we are forced to use RFG, reformulated gas.  It's always at least 10¢ higher than the surrounding counties.  The RFG is supposed to reduce pollution.  I'm not sure what our gas tax is but the extra cost for RFG amounts to an additional tax.  I think our tax is 26¢ per gallon but I could be wrong.  

My way to fight it is to drive a hybrid.  I have a Toyota Prius.  In the city, I consistently get over 50 mpg.  On the highway, it's between 45 and 50 mpg.  

John

More states:
https://itep.org/gas-taxes-rise-in-a-dozen-states-including-an-historic-increase-in-illinois/

Indiana is going up half a cent to 18.9. The tax is indexed to inflation and gas prices.
Illinois is certainly a winner for the amount of inclrease (19 cents jumping to 38 cents).

If you guys are complaining about what you are paying now try paying our prices here in Europe. Double.

https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/

Alexander

Just came back from east coast Thursday. $3.01 on I-90 in PA. First exit in Ohio $2.47.

I live on the west edge of Ohio. On most trips I can make the Iowa-80 truck stop on one tank. Usually a big savings over fueling in IL.

Posted from iPhone

3rdboxcar Wrote:
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> If you guys are complaining about what you are
> paying now try paying our prices here in Europe.
> Double.
>
> https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices
> /
>
> Alexander

But you also have a reliable choice of diesel cars which used to get way better mileage, and diesel is supposedly cheaper for you. I dunno what Euro 4 (Tier 4) has done to that but I have envied your variety of diesels. 

Author: engineerinvirginia I am going to avoid using I81 and then deduct the extra gas tax from my state tax bill. If they try to disallow it...I'll say....well, I don't use that road, so I am not gonna pay for it!
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Good luck with that.