FEDERAL INTERESTS SHOULD RECEIVE MORE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE FOREST HIGHWAY PROGRAM

This report presents an analysis of the forest highway program as currently administered by the Federal Highway Administration and the Forest Service. Topical headings include program history, program management, Federal interests in forest highways evolution of state control over project selection, and problems arising from recent legislation and system reclassifications. The report concludes that the forest highway program is not meeting the Forest Service's needs for managing the national forest resources. The focus of the forest highway program has changed from Federal control to state control and has lessened the Forest Service's input. As a result, forest highway funds are being directed to roads of primary importance to the states but which have little or no relation to national forest transportation needs. In addition, the Highway Administration and Forest Service should improve its forest highway selection procedures. Because of limited funds, project development and the selection process should be based on sound criteria to assure that those projects that best meet the program's intent are given top consideration. It is recommended that both the Secretary of Agriculture and Transportation direct the Federal Highway Administration and the Forest Service to jointly develop and issue specific criteria for selecting projects meriting forest highway funds. Furthermore, legislation should be developed to permit forest roads formerly considered as forest highways to be eligible for funding under the forest highway program.

• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. General Accounting Office

  441 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20548
• Publication Date: 1977-10-13

Media Info

• Features: Appendices;
• Pagination: 14 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Federal government; Forest roads; Forests; Highways; Laws; Management; Natural resources; States
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fund allocations
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Geotechnology; Highways; Law;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00172366
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Rpt. B-164497(3)
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 26 1978 12:00AM