Mileage-Based User Fee (MBUF)
Funding the Road Ahead
Horrocks provided public engagement support for The Eastern Transportation Coalition’s (TETC) Mileage-Based User Fee (MBUF) pilots in North Carolina, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, and New Jersey, as well as a coalition-wide pilot involving all TETC states. The pilots explored MBUF as a potential alternative to the fuel tax by charging drivers based on miles traveled rather than fuel purchased. This allowed policymakers to evaluate sustainable approaches to funding transportation infrastructure as vehicles become more fuel-efficient and electric vehicle use grows.
Because many drivers were unfamiliar with MBUF and had questions about privacy, technology, fairness, and cost, Horrocks developed clear, targeted communications to explain how the approach works, recruit participants, and gather feedback to inform future transportation funding decisions.
SERVICES PROVIDED:
Horrocks tailored recruitment and participant communication strategies to the goals, audiences, and needs of each pilot, coordinating with TETC, state transportation agencies, technology providers, and research partners. Services varied by project and included stakeholder outreach, hotline and email management, incentive strategies, survey coordination, participant support, and engagement tracking.
Horrocks also developed landing page content, recruitment videos, flyers, FAQs, newsletters, email campaigns, and social media content explaining the study, mileage-reporting options, and participant expectations for most of the pilots. The team monitored recruitment and engagement data, adjusted outreach tactics as needed, and communicated directly with participants throughout the pilots.
