National Highway System: Refinements Would Strengthen the System
(Testimony, 07/15/94, GAO/T-RCED-94-266).

GAO discussed the Department of Transportation's (DOT) efforts to
develop a National Highway System (NHS). GAO noted that: (1) although
DOT has articulated many goals for NHS, it needs to establish and link
these goals to system preservation, maintenance, and performance
expectations to form a solid system foundation; (2) a well-maintained
system foundation should enable the system to achieve its other goals
including economic development, enhanced mobility, improved air quality,
and the promotion of travel and tourism; (3) all of the 10 states
reviewed have requested adjustments to the NHS mileage originally
allocated to them; (4) although 6 of the 10 states requested increases
in their mileage adjustments assuming that more NHS miles would increase
federal funding in the future, DOT does not plan to link NHS designation
with funding; (5) DOT does not plan to establish NHS connections with
other transportation modes until 1997; (6) although DOT has developed a
map that identifies possible connection facilities, the map does not
reflect the actual or proposed NHS connection sites; (7) congressional
approval of NHS may be premature, since DOT has not clearly identified
NHS connection facilities; and (8) DOT needs to develop a strategy that
will respond to demographic and economic changes and address how NHS
will expand, what rationale will be required to support size
adjustments, and how frequently adjustments will need to be made.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-RCED-94-266
     TITLE:  National Highway System: Refinements Would Strengthen the 
             System
      DATE:  07/15/94
   SUBJECT:  Highway planning
             Interstate highway system
             Federal/state relations
             Federal aid for highways
             Transportation terminals
             Transportation research
             Evaluation criteria
             Maintenance (upkeep)
             Transportation operations
             Systems evaluation
IDENTIFIER:  National Highway System
             Missouri
             Nevada
             Ohio
             Rhode Island
             West Virginia
             California
             Florida
             Oregon
             Texas
             National Intermodal Transportation System
             
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