BEYOND THE INTERSTATE

This article emphasizes that business and industry must begin to map strategies today for the vitally needed post-Interstate highway plan. Highway users want a future of highway transportation stability with predictable highway system improvement. The article shows how the need for a strong highway program is at least as urgent as the needs of more than 30 years ago that led to the Interstate System. There is a need for business to evaluate how well federal and state highway programs will meet the demands of a growing economy through the 1990s and the twenty first century. The private sector must chart a course of action to assure the highway mobility of future generations. The issue of suburban traffic congestion is discussed with emphasis on the business response to traffic growth, and the role of the Highway Users Federation. Factors affecting future hiwhway transportation, particularly, traffic safety, truck traffic volume, and evolving technology are considered. Federal and state involvement and highway user taxes are discussed.