STATE HIGHWAY FUNDING METHODS (AN ANALYSIS AND UPDATE)

The needs of the nation's roads, highways and bridges have come into sharp focus in the last two years as legislatures in state after state have enacted a diverse range of measures to boost highway spending. The legislative action, 34 states in 1981 and 15 states as of July 30, 1982, comes against a background of historically unprecented road repair needs and abrupt changes in the revenues generated by traditional funding sources. Motor-fuel taxes provide the largest percentage of highway revenue, but shifting patterns in fuel use and increasingly fuel-efficient cars have left many states short of their revenue needs or unable to accurately project the funding amounts that will be availabe for road projects. States are responding by re-evaluating their historic approaches to funding and in many cases are adopting financing programs that are vastly more sophisticated, flexible and sensitive to changes in consumption, inflation and driving habits. Concern over adequate highway financing is likely to be reflected at the federal level next year with proposals to double the federal motor-fuel tax, which has remained unchanged since 1959. States can be expected to be keen participants in any federal funding drama that would sweepingly enhance their road maintenance programs. This report is based on surveys of the highway departments of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as data from the Federal Highway Administration, the Associated General Contractors of America, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association and other government and private agencies. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Road Information Program

  1899 L Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20036
• Publication Date: 1982-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 28 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Budgeting; Data collection; Financing; Highway bridges; Highway maintenance; Highway user taxation; Methodology; Repairing; State government; State highway departments; Surveys
• Uncontrolled Terms: Repairs
• Old TRIS Terms: State highway budget
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00369222
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 31 1983 12:00AM