Transportation Infrastructure: States Benefit From Block Grant Flexibility
RCED-90-126
Published: Jun 08, 1990. Publicly Released: Jun 08, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed five states' experiences in participating in the Federal Highway Administration's (FHwA) Combined Road Plan Demonstration Program, focusing on: (1) how states benefited from the plan's funding flexibility; (2) the plan's administrative advantages; and (3) how states' administration of the Federal-Aid Highway Program compared with federal program administration.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| To maximize the funding and administrative flexibility provided by the Combined Road Plan demonstration program and to more closely approximate the block grant concept, Congress may wish to consider: (1) removing some or all of the title 23 legislative restrictions attendant to the use of funds eligible for the demonstration; and (2) expanding the list of eligible programs for the demonstration. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
As of late 1991, Congress was considering reauthorization of the federal-aid highway enabling legislation. Whether the reauthorization legislation enacted during the first session of the 102nd Congress was unclear at that time. When Congress reauthorized surface transportation programs in late 1991, it did not provide for an extension or renewal of the Combined Road Demonstration Program. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FHwA, to evaluate, on a test basis, the impact of states' actions on safety by evaluating the appropriateness of states' final inspection and design exception decisions. |
Closed – Implemented
FHwA headquarters directed its affected field offices to conduct reviews of final inspection and design exception decisions on a sample of projects. These reviews have now been completed.
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