Case Study: CDM Smith advances user-centered road usage charge planning with Teague

CDM Smith uses Teague’s research to shape a Kansas RUC pilot after 63 hours of interviews

Teague partnered with CDM Smith to assist transportation agencies, including the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), with a critical funding challenge. As electric and fuel-efficient vehicles reduce gas tax revenue, these agencies needed to research a potential replacement called a Road Usage Charge (RUC), a pay-per-mile system. The challenge was to understand public perception and design a user-centered pilot program that would be fair and acceptable to residents.

The solution involved Teague conducting extensive ethnographic research across Kansas, driving over 2,000 miles to interview residents in their homes and workplaces. Teague synthesized these findings into a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations for KDOT. This robust pre-pilot research directly informed the design of a customized RUC pilot program launched in 2024, mitigating risk and ensuring the program was built around the values and needs of Kansans.

CDM Smith