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The Essential Federal Role in Highway Research and Innovation (2015) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Pages 1-3

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From page 1...
... Moreover, the funds available to federal, state, and local governments responsible for roads fall far short of what is needed to maintain the system, much less to expand it to meet the needs of a growing population and an increasingly globally connected economy. The user fees that provide for most highway investment continue to decline in real terms because of improved vehicle fuel economy and resistance to increases in these fees, even to account for the erosion of purchasing power caused by inflation.
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From page 2...
... transfer through its investment in long-term, high-risk research and through the filling of gaps not covered in state department of transportation and other federal highway-related research programs. Examples of past successful innovations described in the report have reduced the time needed to deliver highway improvements, increased throughput, and improved safety, while reducing costs.
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From page 3...
... If substantial reductions do occur, the pace of innovation on the nation's highways will likely slow to a crawl at a time when public expectations for improved safety and greater reliability, as well as reduced revenues for maintenance and upkeep, are placing growing demands on the national highway system. The nation needs to ensure that FHWA has the resources to carry out its essential role in RD&T.
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