Deteriorating Highways and Lagging Revenues: A Need To Reassess the Federal Highway Program
CED-81-42
Published: Mar 05, 1981. Publicly Released: Mar 05, 1981.
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Highlights
A review was conducted of recent trends in state and federal highway financing, the effects of these trends on state highway programs, and the actions taken or proposed to obtain additional financing.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should reassess the Federal-Aid Highway Program, giving consideration to priority needs and funding levels. Specifically, Congress should address: (1) giving priority to preserving existing highways with emphasis on the interstate system; (2) determining whether the current preservation policy needs to be modified to ensure that necessary resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation work on Federal-aid highways is carried out; (3) eliminating preservation funds from sanctions; (4) assessing the goal of interstate completion as currently defined, possibly giving priority to funding essential gaps; (5) analyzing State efforts and capabilities to increase highway revenues and to preserve highways; (6) using highway revenues to fund the Federal-Aid Highway Program; and (7) revising the Federal motor fuel tax and other highway revenue sources to be more responsive to highway needs and the inflationary trends in highway costs. | Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should submit a legislative proposal to exempt preservation-type projects from the sanctions. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should modify the basis for imposing maintenance sanctions to include the failure to perform routine preventive maintenance on a continual and timely basis and not solely when roads become unsafe or unserviceable. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
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Topics
Federal aid for highwaysstate relationsHighway planningPublic roads or highwaysRoad constructionTaxesInflationSanctionsGasolineConservation