Surface Transportation
Tight Budget Environment Requires Sound Investment Strategy Gao ID: T-RCED-94-146 March 8, 1994At the federal level, concerns about the deficit continue to affect funding decisions for a variety of federal programs, from transportation to health care. Investment choices affecting transportation infrastructure are also becoming increasingly complex as development of the National Highway System moves ahead and decision-makers try to get the biggest bang for every transportation dollar spent. This testimony discusses (1) a $406-million imbalance in the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) budget; (2) the need for an FHWA project tracking system capable of providing information on the status of specific highway demonstration project authorizations; (3) the variability of states' use of life-cycle costs analysis as a way of maximizing housing investments; and (4) the need to refine the proposed National Highway System.