REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON COORDINATION AND PROGRAM

AN ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION IS PRESENTED OF HIGHWAY PROBLEMS AS THEY EXIST TODAY WITH SUGGESTIONS AS TO NEEDED RESEARCH IN THEIR SOLUTION. THE PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED UNDER THE FOLLOWING HEADINGS: ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE; TRANSPORTATION COSTS; HIGHWAY DESIGN; MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION; MAINTENANCE; AND USE OF ROADS. THE FUNCTIONS ARE BRIEFLY OUTLINED OF THE HIGHWAY RESEARCH BOARD. THE MAJOR QUESTIONS TO WHICH THE ANSWERS ARE STILL INCOMPLETE ARE: !1) HOW IS THE MONEY TO BE RAISED? (2) WHAT WILL THE ROADS AND THEIR USE COST? (3) WHAT DESIGN WILL SERVE THE TRAFFIC ADEQUATELY AT LEAST COST FOR CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND VEHICLE OPERATION? AND (4) HOW SHALL THE MOST EFFICIENT AND SAFE USE OF THE ROADS BE ARRANGED? IN THE DISCUSSION, MR. FLINN SAYS THAT MANY OF THE TOPICS SUGGESTED FOR RESEARCH ARE OLD, SOME OF THEM MORE THAN ONE GENERATION. THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME INDICATION OF LACK OF COLLECTION OF KNOWLEDGE GAINED AND OF ITS DISSEMINATION AND USE. STRENGTHENING THE ENDEAVORS OF THE HIGHWAY RESEARCH BOARD'S EFFORTS TO COORDINATE AND STIMULATE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WOULD PROBABLY HELP. MR. BROSSEAU DISCUSSES THE QUESTION OF HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION COSTS IN RELATION TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLE TAXATION.