THE USE OF SAMPLE SURVEY METHODS TO ESTIMATE HIGHWAY NEEDS

Large expenditures of money and time are required to perform a highway needs study (HNS). The undertaking of an HNS also demands exceptional cooperation among state, county, and city entities if the work is to be conducted efficiently. Recent and reliable estimates of highway needs are required to do an effective job of administration and successfully influence highway legislation. However, HNSs are seldom performed as methods are time-consuming and costly. The application of sample survey techniques to the estimation of highway needs offers a means whereby shortcomings of conventional procedures may be overcome. Sample survey methods are especially adaptable to the estimation of needs on smaller, local highway systems because of the lack of necessity for detailed knowledge about specific needs for each mile of highway. For this article, complete highway needs data for the county primary road systems in Michigan and Minnesota were used for recent (1960) HNSs. This data was used to develop methodology and techniques for the estimation of total cost highway needs on a statewide basis using sample survey theory. Four sampling plans are examined, and conclusions and recommendations are provided.