A NEW DIRECTION FOR THE HIGHWAY PROGRAM

In 1972 the California highway program faced a number of problems including rising construction costs, declining revenue growth, and the resulting unmanageable $17 billion project backlog. McKinsey and Company joined the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in a 2-year study to pinpoint the causes of existing problems, establish pilot studies in selected districts to test new approaches and tools, and implement the effort throughout the state. The results of the study have been far-reaching and have affected all aspects of the highway decision- making process. Caltrans has shifted from a project-by-project design approach that in effect assumed unlimited funding to a new approach that focuses on achieving maximum systemwide benefits with the funds that are likely to be available. A new planning methodology, new analytical tools, and new controls have been implemented. Caltrans has used this new approach to develop a 20-year slate of highway projects. This slate will cost only a third of the cost of the 1972 project backlog and will result in greater safety and mobility benefits and lower operating costs than would have resulted from the same level of expenditure under previous plans. Moreover, it can be financed with projected funds and completed within 20 years.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/585/585-001.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=A+NEW+DIRECTION+FOR+THE+HIGHWAY+PROGRAM&author=C.+Forbes&author=R.+Womack&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309024994
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Transportation Programming, Planning, and Evaluation. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Forbes, C E
  • Womack, Robert R
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1-16
• Monograph Title: Transportation Programming and Management
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 585
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction; Costs; Decision making; Highways; Mobility; Operating costs; Programming (Planning); Revenues; Transportation planning
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs
• Old TRIS Terms: Highway programming
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Finance; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00141519
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024994
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 17 1976 12:00AM