BEYOND THE INTERSTATE ERA

Transportation 2020 began by identifying what's happening in transportation. Recent underfinancing of highways has brought about increasing traffic congestion, an increase in traffic fatalities, and deterioration of the condition of America's roads and bridges. These conditions, all of which increase transportation costs, call for a continued federal focus on highways. The Highway Users Federation has developed a program of desired highway policy which sees a logical federal highway role that would accomplish the following: provide leadership in transportation planning and research; protect the level of service on the vital Interstate System; add high quality highways to serve new needs; reduce urban and suburban traffic congestion; guarantee service and access to rural America; improve highway and traffic safety; and give more flexibility to state and local highway managers with fewer federal restrictions. To accomplish such a program the highway community must work together as a team. Transportation 2020 has created such a team by bringing together more than 100 national organizations, many of whom are focusing on highways for the first time.