U.S. highway system finances at crossroads
Since US highway funding is tied directly to a per-gallon fee that exempts non-petroleum fuels like ethanol, receipts in the Highway Trust Fund are not increasing fast enough to cover the escalating costs of maintaining the nation's highway infrastructure, much less reduce the congestion that is choking economic competitiveness.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has produced a valuable deskbook reference with some of the key facts that will be useful as the debate heats up on how to pay for highway construction and maintenance when the Trust Fund goes into deficit in 2009. Future Needs of the U.S. Surface Transportation System is worth keeping handy.
Just a few facts to whet your appetite:
In 2005, the US invested $75 billion in construction and rehabilitation ($33 billion federal; $42 billion state/local).
To improve highways will require an additional $118.9 billion ($155.5 billion if you include bridges).
Trucks carry 79% of freight tonnage. Today only 30 miles of Interstate highways carry 50,000 trucks per day per mile; by 2035, increased freight volume will increase this to 2,500 miles.
Several blue ribbon commissions are studying the future of highway finance.
