OBJECTIVES AND FINDINGS OF HIGHWAY NEEDS STUDIES

THE SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE HIGHWAY PLANNING STUDIES NOW BEING MADE INVOLVE THESE PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS. THEY ARE: (1) ECONOMICS--THOROUGH EXPLORATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION, ASSEMBLING ALL DATA WHICH BEARS ON THE GOAL OF DETERMINING WHAT EXPENDITURES SHOULD BE MADE TO BEST SERVE THE STATE'S ECONOMY. (2) HISTORY--COVERING HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT WITH EMPHASIS ON LEGISLATIVE ASPECTS. (3) FINANCE--A HISTORICAL REVIEW OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, AS A MEASURE OF PROGRESS AND TO POSITION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE. (4) FEDERAL AID--HISTORY AND INFLUENCE ON STATE'S ROAD DEVELOPMENT. (5) ROAD USE AND FUTURE GROWTH--DETERMINE CHARACTERISTICS OF ROAD AND STREET USE, AND PROJECT TRENDS OF POPULATION, VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND MILES OF TRAVEL. (6) TRAFFIC OPERATIONS--DEPICT PROCEDURES TO MAKE UTMOST USE OF PRESENT AND FUTURE FACILITIES. (7) CLASSIFICATION--DETERMINE WHICH AGENCY OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH MILE OF ROAD AND STREET. (8) STANDARDS--ADOPT RECOGNIZED STANDARDS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND TOLERABLE STANDARDS FOR EXITING FACILITIES TO ASSURE MAXIMUM ECONOMY AND YET ADEQUATELY MEET NEEDS OF EACH MILE OF ROAD. (9) ADMINISTRATION--STUDY OF MANAGEMENT WITH RESPECT TO EFFICIENCY AND NEED FOR CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN STATE, COUNTY AND CITY, AND BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. (10) LONG-RANGE HIGHWAY PROGRAM--THE END RESULT, WHICH IS THE TOTAL PRODUCT OF ALL OF THESE INTER-RELATED ELEMENTS. /AUTHOR/