HIGHWAY PROGRAMMING ISSUES AND PRACTICES: PROCEEDINGS OF TWO CONFERENCES. PART 4: EASTERN CONFERENCE--PAPER PRESENTED BY HAL KASSOFF

The highway program of the Maryland Department of Transportation is discussed. The entire management team at the State Highway Administration is involved in its preparation and it is based on the fund allocations and policy framework established by the secretary. Legislation requires that the program and the budget be tied to each other to ensure that legislative actions on the budget will have a direct bearing on the approved program. The annual cycle for updating the program is described, as is also the structure of the highway program. The principal technical criteria for identifying and establishing the priority status of all Maryland highway projects are (1) safety hazards, (2) structural condition, and (3) service levels. Each of these aspects are discussed. The pitfalls of the program development process are noted.