Comment on Iowa DOT, lawmakers anticipate decline in fuel tax revenue as coronavirus slows travel

CEDAR RAPIDS — It’s pretty obvious that traffic volume on the state’s roads has fallen as the number of Iowans working from home and sheltering in place has increased with each school and workplace closure.The Iowa Department of Transportation’s 120 automatic traffic recorders embedded in streets and highways show the number of vehicles on streets, roads, highways and interstates has fallen by nearly 50 percent compared to a year ago.Less obvious is the impact that’s having on motor fuel taxes paid on gas and diesel at the pump.