As Road Pricing Summit 2025 approaches, CiTTi Magazine continues its profile series of confirmed speakers at the internationally recognised event.
Taking place on 18-19 September at the Hyatt Regency Miami in Downtown Miami, Florida, the summit will bring together senior public- and private-sector stakeholders to address one of the most urgent challenges in transport finance across North America: replacing declining gas tax revenues with sustainable funding for roads and infrastructure.
The two-day conference will convene policymakers, industry leaders and innovators to exchange best practice on the planning, financing, implementation and operation of tolling, road usage charging (RUC) and mobility pricing schemes spanning highways, urban roads and cross-border corridors.
FREE: Subscribe to the monthly Road Pricing Summit Newsletter!
Among the confirmed speakers is Carmen Martorana, CEO of the International Fuel Tax Association (IFTA). Martorana leads the administration of the International Fuel Tax Agreement, a cooperative framework among the 48 contiguous US states and 10 Canadian provinces.
Under his leadership, IFTA manages the agreement and oversees the IFTA Clearinghouse, which supports the collection and distribution of net fuel taxes among participating jurisdictions.
Prior to his current role, Martorana served for more than 30 years with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, where he held various roles in tax administration.
At this year’s Road Pricing Summit, Martorana will take part in a three-person panel exploring the tax policy perspective of road usage charging.
The session will examine how RUC schemes can align with the user-pays principle, whether mileage-based fees or other user fees are more effective, and how to ensure fairness and efficiency in road financing models.
Name: Carmen Martorana
Job Title: CEO
Organisation: International Fuel Tax Association Inc.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?
The most rewarding aspect of my role is maintaining this unique collaboration across jurisdictions despite the diverse political, environmental, cultural and demographic contexts of participating states and provinces. Working with such a varied group to address the evolving challenges of how we fund infrastructure remains both stimulating and rewarding.
What is the most pressing challenge for user-financed transportation in 2025?
Educating the public about how infrastructure is currently funded, while maintaining a uniform and coordinated approach to evolving revenue models across states and provinces, is the most pressing challenge.
What is your best piece of advice for those implementing user-financed transport schemes?
Learn from the various pilot programmes already undertaken in some jurisdictions, and understand the critical role of public education. Avoid adopting a short-term fix, such as a flat registration fee, purely for its simplicity. Instead, prioritise long-term solutions that uphold the fundamental principle of a use-based tax.
Does legislation support or hinder innovation in this sector?
Legislation supports innovation. Federal and state regulatory frameworks, as well as monetary incentives at some levels, will help advance a more sustainable future for transport infrastructure finance.
How will user-financed transport schemes evolve by 2030?
By 2030, I believe a fundamental shift will occur. Ultimately, replacing fuel taxes with a tax per mile is the only logical long-term solution. The industry will adapt, embracing technology to gather the data needed to process these taxes. The taxable base will expand dramatically, moving from a few hundred fuel distributors to individual drivers.
Why are you looking forward to speaking at the Road Pricing Summit?
I’m looking forward to exchanging ideas, sharing information and collaborating with other industry stakeholders on how to sustainably source infrastructure revenue at both federal and state levels.
With a comprehensive agenda, high-level speakers and exclusive networking opportunities, the Road Pricing Summit is the only independent annual forum of its kind for tolling and road pricing professionals across the USA. Register here!
