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Title:

INNOVATIVE FINANCING METHODS FOR LOCAL ROADS IN MIDWEST AND MOUNTAIN-PLAINS STATES

Accession Number:

00763250

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

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Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309065240

Abstract:

Budget constraints for transportation projects are a growing problem at the federal, state, and local levels. At the same time, several changes have been affecting demands placed on the transportation systems, for example, population shifts, changes in travel patterns, and changes in economic activity. County and local governments are faced with increased demands on some portions of their road systems, and other portions have seen a drop in the level of use. As a result, these transportation agencies are facing tremendous challenges to maintain their extensive road networks and provide improvements when and where needed. Traditional funding sources are no longer adequate. There is a great need for counties to explore innovative methods to increase revenues or decrease costs or both. However, because of the nature of rural states (i.e., low population density and a limited tax base), methods used to supplement public funding of transportation projects in urban areas may not be applicable. Described are 4 innovative financing methods (e.g., rural improvement districts) and 14 cost reducing strategies (e.g., sharing equipment) used by local governments in eight rural states. County road officials identified these methods through a mail questionnaire and rated key criteria, such as ease of collection, to evaluate each method before implementing it. Rural improvement districts, special assessment districts, and the wheel tax were identified as innovative methods that are not widely used to raise revenues for a county road system. Advantages and disadvantages of each innovative financing method identified are discussed.

Supplemental Notes:

This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1652, Seventh International Conference on Low-Volume Roads, May 23-26, 1999, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Volume 1.

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Hough, J
Smadi, A

Pagination:

p. 7-12

Publication Date:

1999

Serial:

Transportation Research Record

Issue Number: 1652
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
ISSN: 0361-1981

Conference:

Seventh International Conference on Low-Volume Roads

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Date: 1999-5-23 to 1999-5-26
Sponsors: US Forest Service; Federal Highway Administration; US Bureau of Indian Affairs; Louisiana State University; World Road Association; Department of International Development-UK; Louisiana Transportation Research Center; Louisiana DOT

ISBN:

0309065240

Features:

References (7) ; Tables (4)

Uncontrolled Terms:

Subject Areas:

Finance; Highways; I10: Economics and Administration

Files:

TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

May 21 1999 12:00AM