jjw, federal transportation funds come from the federal gas tax. This does not mean you pay. However, gas tax is used to pay for much of transit, bike paths, sidewalks, and streetscapes. You do benefit from this tax even though you do not pay into it, particularly if you ever ride in a car with someone else driving.

The federal transportation trust fund is anticipated to be broke well before the end of the fiscal year. This is due to the sharp decrease in driving, the increase in fuel efficiency, and the greater cost for repairing roads, that if were maintained properly should not cost as much nor be as big of an inconvience to fix. However, since the transportation budget is so out of whack transportation providers resort to deffered maintenace and that why you see so many raggedy buses and roads.