Transportation revenue is diminishing.

The revenue picture for state legislatures in 2009 is generally bleak, given the economic recession and growing needs in all sectors. Transportation revenue, essentially fat in recent years, now is diminishing as driving declines. Benefits include clean air and congestion relief, but gas tax revenues-still the primary source of state and federal transportation funding-have correspondingly decreased. The funding decline already has forced two dozen states to make transportation program cuts or consider them in the 2009 legislative sessions.