Yes, but the purpose of the tax has changed several times since its initial establishment. I don't see that as a bad thing
Yes, politicians decided to use a funding source (which was sold as a "user fee") for a purpose other than what the user fee was intended to fund... What a surprise.
Of course the Highway trust fund has been significantly underfunded for decades as a result, which is the main reason it has had to be supplemented by general funds in recent years, and is all but bankrupt... It is the main reason so many states have turned to Toll roads to pay for the needed transportation infrastructure.
It is also the reason, more than half of the transportation structures in the US are now rated as "below standard" which is engineering speak for getting ready to fall down. Think of that the next time you cross a bridge.