DETERIORATING HIGHWAYS AND LAGGING REVENUES: A NEED TO REASSESS THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY PROGRAM
The condition of our Nation's highways is declining. The Interstate System has seen the most serious decline--its percentage of miles in poor condition more than doubled over the last 3 reporting years. Billions of dollars will be needed to preserve these roads, and if timely action is not taken, deterioration will accelerate and even more money will be needed for reconstruction. The increasing costs to complete the Interstate System and to continue other highway programs will cost additional billions. Mounting costs of highway construction and maintenance and lagging State and Federal highway revenues are compounding these problems. Although the States have taken a number of actions to increase highway revenues--primarily by raising motor fuel taxes--there has been no Federal action. The Congress needs to reassess the Federal highway program. Among other things, it should consider priority funding for preserving existing roads, assessing the goal of completing the Interstate as now defined, and revising the Federal motor fuel tax to be more responsive to inflation.
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Supplemental Notes:
- Errata sheet inserted.
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Corporate Authors:
U.S. General Accounting Office
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20548 - Publication Date: 1981-3-5
Media Info
- Pagination: 102 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Construction; Cost estimating; Costs; Deterioration; Estimates; Federal aid highways; Federal government; Fuels; Highways; Inflation; Maintenance; Maintenance management; Pavement maintenance; Planning; Policy; Recommendations; Revenues; Taxation
- Identifier Terms: Interstate Highway System
- Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs; Fund allocations; Maintenance costs
- Old TRIS Terms: Government policies
- Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Energy; Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Research; I10: Economics and Administration; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00344836
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
- Report/Paper Numbers: CED-81-42
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Dec 22 1982 12:00AM