Should Washington motorists pay by the miles to drive?

Washington state transportation officials are exploring whether to charge drivers by the mile to use state highway and roads.

A steering committee of transportation experts recently concluded it's feasible to move the state away from gasoline taxes to a "pay as you go" road fee system.

Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond says the question now is whether the idea is acceptable for the state and in what form.

The Washington Transportation Commission is expected to ask state lawmakers for money to study further how the idea would work.

Washington and other states are looking for ways to pay for highway maintenance and repair as residents drive less and more fuel-efficient cars are making fewer gas tax dollars available for transportation.