According to Matt Bruning or ODOT a $2 million grant from the federal government will be used to "research, and determine the next steps forward" in relation to creating a user fee for Ohio's roads. The increased use of fuel efficient cars is creating a shortfall in funding for highway maintenance and construction in Ohio, other states, and the federal government. States have over the years increased their fuel taxes but the federal fuel tax hasn't changed since 1992.
Some critics worry that a user fee would affect lower income people more because many have longer commutes, but that doesn't take into effect the number of low income people who don't own cars and use public transportation.