THE 1972 NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY: THE PROCESS AND RESULTS

THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE CONTENT OF AND RESULTS FROM THE 1972 NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY. THIS STUDY, SPONSORED BY THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, REPRESENTS THE FIRST EFFORT ON BEHALF OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PRESENT TO THE CONGRESS AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NATONAL TRANSPORTATION CONDITION THAT ATTEMPTS TO COVER ALL OF THE TRANSPORTATION MODES FOR BOTH FREIGHT AND PASSENGER MOVEMENT. THE STUDY WAS STRUCTURED TO RELY HEAVILY UPON A SURVEY OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ESTIMATE INVESTMENT NEEDS THROUGH 1990. A SURVEY OF ANTICIPATED CAPITAL NEEDS AND ACTIVITY LEVELS WAS CONDUCTED BY MAJOR SHIPPERS AND CARRIERS. THE PAPER SUMMARIZES THE RETURNS OBTAINED FROM BOTH MAJOR SURVEYS AND PRESENTS THE MAJOR CONCLUSIONS. THE RESULTS OF A SERIES OF ANALYTIC INVESTIGATIONS INTO SEVERAL KEY INTERCITY AND URBAN TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, UNDERTAKEN WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, ARE PRESENTED IN SUMMARY FORM. THE PAPER CONCLUDES WITH A VERY BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE 1972 NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION REPORT TO THE CONGRESS, WHICH PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF THE FULL STUDY ALONG WITH A SERIES OF CONCLUSIONS AND GUIDELINES REGARDING THE STRUCTURE OF FUTURE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS. /AUTHOR/