Governors in cash-strapped states are revving the motor on efforts to hike the gasoline tax to cover shortfalls or pay for transportation projects -- frustrating drivers, Republican lawmakers and others in a delicate economy.

The tax hikes mean that drivers could soon be paying more at the pump, even if the price of fuel goes down.

Wyoming and California have already approved increases. Wyoming's state gas tax goes from 14 cents to 24 cents a gallon in July and is projected to bring in roughly $70 million in fiscal 2014 for transportation projects. And California regulators last month approved a 3.5-cent hike on its state excise tax that will take effect in July and increase the cost of an average fill-up by roughly 52 cents.

At least 14 other states -- including Maryland, Massachusetts and Minnesota -- have either passed similar increases or are considering them, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Lawmakers have until now been largely unwilling to raise the state gas tax to fund transportation projects -- not only is doing so politically unpopular, but the scheme continues to yield less revenue as a result of more fuel-efficient vehicles and cost-conscious Americans consuming less gas.

Still, Ben Husch, a National Conference of State Legislatures director, said "numerous states" are now moving to beef up their transportation funding stream, and "these states' bold actions may serve as a model for other states grappling with the same issues."

But these "bold actions" come at a cost to motorists.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is proposing an increase that would vault the state to No. 5 in the country for the amount motorists pay in federal and state gasoline excise taxes.

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