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Federal Aid Highway Transportation Systems Part 1

Posted by aditya | 4:07 PM | | 1 comments »

In 1912 Congress made the first in a continuing series of appropriations to the states for road construction. This appropriation, followed by annual grants for the years 1916 to 1920, was for "post roads/' over which the mail was carried. It soon developed that this form of appropriation resulted in scattered improvements without any assurance of continuity or an ultimate system of improved highways. To remedy the situation, federal appropriations since 1920 have been made to limited mileages of roads of specified characteristics; thus the various federal-aid systems described in subsequent paragraphs are the result of instructions from Congress as to the use of federal funds. About 22% of all rural roads and 24% of the urban road networks, generally the more important ones, are on federal-aid systems.

Congress has, over time, redefined the various Federal-aid systems and changed federal-aid allocations with the aim of putting the money where it is most needed. It seems clear that in the years ahead, the systems described below, the pattern of federal-aid financing, and the permitted uses of funds will be substantially altered as conditions change.


established the federal-aid primary system. It required the states to make an initial selection of 7% or less of their total rural mileage as a system of primary' and Interstate highways. Selections were subject to the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture operating through an Office of Public Roads. Federal aid was restricted to these roads. After the 1921 act, the main trunk roads of the nation, totaling 180,000 mi in length, were quickly selected. This primary federal aid system, often referred to as the "7% system/' now totals 265,000 rural and 37,000 urban mi. In combination with the Interstate System, these roads form the core of our highway network.

Title Post: Federal Aid Highway Transportation Systems Part 1
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Author: aditya