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Yesterday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s National Chamber Foundation (NCF) released a study that outlines new options to fund the nation’s transportation system.

The Future Highway and Public Transportation Finance Study is the second phase of a two-part NCF study. The first phase determined that federal funding falls short of what’s needed to improve the country’s transportation infrastructure. The latest report outlines long-term funding options and details how to transition to a new financing mechanism.

The foundation suggested options such as switching from the motor fuel tax to a vehicle mile tax, or expanding the use of tolling by state and local governments.

"Current funding mechanisms are not providing the dollars our transportation system needs," said NCF Executive Vice President David Hirschmann in a prepared statement. "Congress needs to implement fair funding mechanisms to ensure we have the resources to build our roads and public transportation in the future."

The report contains "bold new ideas that need to be considered," according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), which is urging Congress to address the transportation funding system.

"It is time for our national leaders to begin the dialogue needed to ensure that our surface transportation system will be able to meet the travel needs of the American public in the years to come," said APTA President William Millar.