Better Estimates and State Action Needed on Coal-Haul Roads

As a result of continuing congressional interest in establishing and financing a Federal program for improving the coal road system, GAO conducted a brief survey of the system.

Various studies have shown that many of the coal roads are deteriorating rapidly and are in desperate need of repair or replacement. More than 75 percent of these roads are a part of the Federal-Aid Highway System. Identifying a projected coal road system, its mileage, and the costs of making needed improvements is extremely difficult because of the ever-changing coal market demand and coal mine locations. Cost estimates to improve the coal road system vary considerably. The three States which GAO visited were not effectively combating the problem of overweight truck traffic, a primary cause of rapid deterioration of highways. Kentucky was the only State visited which maintained statistics on the number of coal trucks in violation of weight limits and had a maximum fine for operating an overweight truck. Federal funds for roads in the coal areas are available through the regular Federal-Aid Highway Program, but the States which GAO visited placed no special emphasis on highway projects designed to improve the coal roads. Only one State designated any portion of coal tax receipts for coal road projects. Pennsylvania's road bonding program receives insufficient income from truck operators to adequately repair damages. Overstated mileage and cost estimates should be closely reexamined before any coal road program is established. In addition, inadequate State efforts to prevent highway deterioration and the limited amount of State funds collected from coal road users to cover the costs of repair should be addressed when establishing a Federal coal road program.